Comforting Warmth: A Slam Dunk fanfic
By: nikki hiiragizawa nikki_hiiragizawa@rurouni.com
Rating: R
Genre: angst/drama/romance
Pairings: RuHana/HanaRu, RuKo/KoRu, MitKo/KoMit
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk is not mine. If it is mine, then Kogure is the main character. ^.^
Nikki: hello, thank you for holding on. You are all so nice! Anou…Kenji-kun…I didn't mean holding on to my shirt…
Fujima: Oh…*moves hands away*
Nikki: Anyway, yes, Kimi-chan, I do wish Kogure is the main character…but, then, that means more rivals for love right? Hehehe…
Fujima: Nikki…
Nikki: Gomenne, Kenji-kun! I'll make you a fic next time! And for Megane-chan and mihari and Nakkie and Madiha and JCM and SirenM and amyza and shi-chan and whoever who had not placed their names…you'll know the ending soon enough!
Kiyotarevived: More like after 5 chapters!
Nikki: *brings down mallet upon spider monkey* Saa, go on to the fic!
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CHAPTER 4:
The night was so warm. There was no sign of the autumn wind that was supposed to be blowing mildly through the evening. No clouds even scattered in the sky. It seems as if everything is quiet, holding their breath for something to happen.
"Hello?"
"Aya…Ayako?"
The basketball team's manager recognized the voice instantly. "Mitsui-sempai? Do you need something? Is something wrong?"
"Anou, can I come over there? I need someone to talk to." The voice seemed confused and hesitant, shaking as it asked the question strange to Ayako's ears.
Ayako raised her eyebrows. "Well, yeah sure, sempai."
A sigh of relief was heard on the other end. "Doomo."
That night, Mitsui Hisashi went to Ayako's house.
+++
Kogure lay on his side, his back facing Shohoku's ace. Rukawa tried everything to make Kogure continue what they were doing, but it seems that the bespectacled boy had lost interest and would rather sleep.
"Min-kun." Rukawa touched the vice-captain's arm lightly. Kogure did not move. Rukawa shook the vice-captain's arm harder. "Min-kun!" he repeated, this time a bit louder.
Kogure turned to him crossly. "What?!"
"What are you being so angry about?!" Rukawa frowned. Kogure never ever turned sulky like this, and he'd like to know why.
"You shouldn't have done that," Kogure flatly replied as he pulled the blanket closer to him and snuggled between the pillows.
Rukawa flushed. "I haven't done anything yet. That's because you're lying there covered with a blanket as if I'm trying to violate you!"
"That's not what I mean!" Kogure turned his lithe body so that he was facing his lover. "I meant about Mitsui." Rukawa's frown turned worse as he noticed the sudden shift in Kogure's voice upon the mention of Mitsui's name.
The small forward snorted. "He deserves it. He butted in at our quality time."
"He needs somebody to talk to him, Kaede. He was just asking for some time…"
Now, it was Rukawa's turn to be angry. "Why? I need somebody to talk to, too! I also want time…with you! Why does he have to ask you anyway? He can ask Miyagi and Akagi for all we care!"
"My, my. We are very talkative today aren't we?" Kogure observed as he decided to shift the subject. "Sou. We must go study for our exam tomorrow." He stood up, curtaining the blanket around him, as he marched to the bathroom.
Rukawa threw a pillow to the bathroom door just as Kogure closed it. Why does his Min-kun have to be so kind? Why does everyone try to take everything away from him? First, Hanamichi…Kami knows what reason he wanted for taking him away from me…we were so happy before…and then, Min-kun came along and Mitsui-sempai is now trying to win him! His breathing became heavy from too much intense feelings. Why do I have to deal with all of these? Ain't Hanamichi's death good enough?! Min-kun…was…was…my hope…and now…he will be gone too…
Unconsciously, tears began to fall mercilessly, one thing Rukawa shouldn't let happen. One by one, those pearly drops began to roll down, letting his inner feelings he dare not reveal emanate out of him.
"Kaede, I think you…Kaede?" Kogure did not mind that he was soaking wet as he sat on the bed beside Rukawa. "What's wrong?"
"You," Rukawa managed to croak. "It's you."
Kogure almost panicked. What did he do now? "Why? Is there…"
"You love Mitsui-sempai don't you? You like him better than me." Almost automatically, Kogure cradled the ace in his arms.
"Of course not! Don't think of silly things now. You know I won't leave you."
Rukawa seemed unconvinced. "First, it was Hanamichi…Then you…all of you…you don't keep your promises…"
"Oh Kaede." Kogure pushed the younger man so that he was lying on his back with the vice-captain over him. "I won't leave you. Have you seen me break my promise? All I want is your happiness."
Rukawa sniffed, trying his very best to cease those tears. Yet, they kept coming, in gushes, in rivers… "You…do…"
"I do." Kogure's eyes became glazed with something other than concern. "Let me show you." He bent down as he tugged on Rukawa's pants.
Yeah. Mitsui-sempai is nothing…nothing… Rukawa closed his eyes firmly.
+++
"What makes you come here at this time of the night, sempai?" Ayako welcomed the shooting guard warmly and served tea in the living room.
Mitsui sipped the tea thoughtfully. "Sumanu, Ayako-san. I just needed somebody who'll listen to me."
The team manager nodded to show Mitsui that she's all ears. "So? Anything wrong?"
"Ayako-san, did you…did you already know of Rukawa and Sakuragi's relationship even before Sakuragi's dea…before the incident?
His hostess refilled the teacup and answered seriously. "No, I didn't know it until after the funeral. Don't you remember, Kogure-sempai told us."
"Demo, do you think it is possible that Rukawa will find a replacement for Sakuragi so easily?"
Ayako thought for a while. "You mean Rukawa and Kogure-sempai, don't you?"
Mitsui almost spurted out the tea. "You…you knew…" Sapphire eyes studied the girl before him as she thought of a better answer.
"They have been going out for quite some time now, I know." Ayako pulled at the thread of her shirt. "It all started when Kogure-sempai told Rukawa of Sakuragi's death, I think.
Mitsui tried to object. "But, is it possible? I mean, Sakuragi just…just died…"
"Yes, I know." Ayako gravely nodded. "However, you can call Kogure-sempai an angel for Rukawa. You see, if it hadn't been for him, Rukawa must have committed suicide"
I'd rather have him commit suicide. "Did Kogure ever told you about their relationship?"
"Nope. They were pretty secretive about it. Whenever we ask, sempai just…well…smiles." Ayako placed a hand on her forehead. "But I don't think their relationship was deep enough, if you know what I mean."
Get to the point, for heaven's sake! Mitsui put down his cup. "What do you mean?"
"Funny you should ask." The girl shifted her position on the mat and continued. "Ryota and I had been talking about it. It seems that Rukawa's just looking for comfort…you know…somebody who'll support him. It's obvious that Kogure-sempai knows it, but he didn't want to ruin anything."
"Why did he not say anything, then?" Mitsui gave up on concealing his emotions.
Ayako arched one brow but did not say anything about it. "Well, you know how Kogure-sempai is…always kind."
The clock chimed the hour and Mitsui started to get up. "Miyagi will kill me if he finds out I went here, so I'll probably say goodbye."
Ayako gave one tinkling laugh and handed Mitsui his coat. "Is that all you needed to talk about?"
The shooting guard froze on his tracks. "Umm…yeah…sort of…" He nodded to Ayako as he went out.
"You know," Ayako said before closing her door. "You can change his mind."
"What?"
"Oh, did I say anything? Jaa ne, Mitsui-sempai!" Ayako hurriedly closed the door, knowing that Mitsui will not have the courage to let her explain.
Shit! The world is full of cryptic things…
+++
"Anou, Mitsui." Mitsui turned slowly. Is this a dream? No. Kogure was really there, calling his name. Practice was over. Surprisingly, Rukawa wasn't there, but Mitsui did not take any chances and refrained from conversing with the vice-captain, until thing happened.
Mitsui tried to regain composure with much effort. "Uh, nani, Kogure?"
Kogure's brown eyes went up to meet his sapphire ones. "Anou, I want to say sorry for last time. Kaede was very rude…"
"You do not have to say sorry for him, Kogure. He was the one who did it."
"But I want to!" Kogure bowed as he realized he had been too enthusiastic with his statement. "I mean, I really do not want to hurt your feelings that time…"
"You didn't. Don't worry." Mitsui decided that burdening Kogure with another problem is much too hard for the vice-captain to take. He just had to take it slowly. "Hmm…speaking of your lover…" Kogure's eyes widened in surprise. "Where is Rukawa?"
It took quite a long moment before Kogure could answer. "Oh, he…uh…was called by his parents. His grandfather wanted to see him, I think."
"You think…hmmm…" Damn that Rukawa! Didn't even tell Kogure where he is going! "Ja, I have to go now." He turned around and started to frisk away, when he felt a tug on his shirt. Oh no, please don't make Kogure do this! It's just so like him! Still, he turned around once more. "What is it now?"
Kogure was pink…unbelievably blushing. Why am I blushing like this? he thought. There was something in Mitsui's eyes that triggered something inside me…I cannot quite name it…but… "I just want to ask where you knew…"
"That you and Rukawa are a couple?" Kogure, dumbfounded, nodded. "Didn't you know," Mitsui said, almost sneering. "Almost everyone knows. Besides, we all know you couldn't keep your hands away from each other. Imagine making out in a locker room…" Mitsui stopped himself. He was letting his feelings slide as if he was putting the blame on Kogure! He looked at Kogure, who was stiffly standing in front of him as if he was socked by a giant fist.
"Is that so…" Kogure had his head bowed, one of his hands laid over the wall, as if trying to support him. "I didn't know you were there…Gomen nasai…"
"Ko…Kogure, I didn't…mean to say it…I was…" Mitsui stammered as he tried to explain but Kogure shook his head and turned away.
"Thank you for telling me. I'll make sure there won't be any more things like that happening so as not to bother you…" Kogure stepped a foot backward and proceeded to go away.
"No, wait." Mitsui had one of his arms in a tight grip. In a span of seconds, Mitsui pulled Kogure to him and had him pinned against the wall.
"Mitsu…" Kogure wasn't able to finish as warm lips descended on him. He tried to pull away, heaven knows how much he tried, but Mitsui's grip was so tight and his warmth was so enticing…
The vice-captain found himself responding to the kiss, groaning like mad as Mitsui's body caused friction with his. Mitsui took this opportunity and rubbed against Kogure, letting his mouth wander downwards to cover a part of the vice-captain's neck.
"No, stop!" Kogure used every ounce of his strength to push Mitsui away. It didn't help much, because Mitsui still had his hands pinning Kogure's arms to the wall.
"What is wrong?"
Kogure covered his face with his hands as Mitsui released his arms. "All…Everything is wrong….What will Kaede say?"
"Rukawa is out of this, Kogure!" Mitsui shook his shoulders. "You know he doesn't love you…he…"
Kogure kept shaking his head in a perfect rhythm. "No! He loves me! He does…"
"Oh fucking shit he does!" Mitsui snapped. Suddenly, his voice turned mellower. "Kogure, you know why I am doing this?" Kogure stopped shaking his head, and stood transfixed with Mitsui's eyes. The shooting guard took a deep breath before continuing. "Because I love you! And I can't take the treatment Rukawa has been giving you like you are some basketball shoes that he doesn't want to give away!"
"Mitsui…basketball shoes?" Kogure was apparently at a loss. He gasped as Mitsui leaned against him so that his frame was pinned against the wall again.
"Kogure, what do you really feel?" Mitsui whispered against the vice-captain's ear. "Tell me, is your feelings for Rukawa true?"
Mitsui bent his head to continue in following the trail he had set up moments ago. "Just say yes, and I will stop, Kiminobu," he growled as he continued tracing patterns on Kogure's slick skin.
"Mit…su…i…" Kogure knows he must say yes, for Rukawa and his sake. He closed his eyess as he tried to endure. But it was hard to say yes…
Because he didn't want Mitsui to stop.
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Nikki: WAAAHHHH! *buries herself*
Kiyota: Hey, I didn't know you had this talent with you…
Fujima: Shut up! Can't you see she is in agony?
Nikki: *sniff* I can't believe my idea of a RuHana turned to one of my nightmares…a MitKo….waaaahhhhh!!!!!!
Mitsui: *suddenly pops in* It was pretty good, though. Write more of this and I'll be one happy man.
Nikki: and I'll be one unlucky fangirl who'll never have Kogure.
Fujima: You can have me.
Nikki: And let myself be killed by Hanagata? You wish…
EXCESS: To all those who reviewed, this chapter is lime-ly made with love for all of you!
