Comforting Warmth: A Slam Dunk fanfic

By: nikki hiiragizawa

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: Saa…this goes much closer and closer to the end…I am so joyful!!! *skips in rapture*

Fujima: Erm…aren't you supposed to be sad because this has to go for a few chapters…

Kiyota: She's weird girl, Fujima..

Nikki: Saa, go on and discover what Rukawa and Sendoh did and what Mitsui will do….^.^

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CHAPTER 7:

Mitsui found the gate of Kogure's house unlocked. Calling the vice-captain, he swung the gate open and welcomed himself. When he reached the wooden front door, he realized that it was also ajar. Maybe Kogure had not thought of even locking it when he ran home. Mitsui feared for both his and Kogure's safety so he locked the door behind him.

A pair of shoes, Kogure's as Mitsui observed, was carelessly thrown on the doormat. Removing his own shoes, Mitsui arranged both pairs and called the vice-captain's name.

"Up here," a muffled voice said. The shooting guard cautiously climbed the stairs towards the second floor. He frowned as he saw that all the doors for each room were alike. Moving to his left, he turned the knob of one door.

"Kogure?" Mitsui called as he opened the door. Maybe it was instinct, maybe it was luck, but the three-point shooter found himself inside the room he had always dreamt of entering: Kogure's room. He glanced at the vice-captain on the bed, burrowed under the stack of pillow and blankets, his back to him. "Wow, I found your room on the first try!" he cheerily said. "All your doors looked the same eh."

The vice-captain sluggishly threw the covers away and sat up. Mitsui couldn't help but sigh as they faced each other. Kogure's usually happy brown eyes were edged in red and severely puffed, traces of tears shed not too long ago tainted his cheeks, and his hair was oppressively ruffled from his burying under the bedding.

"Kogure…" Mitsui said as slowly he stepped towards the boy. "Kuso, it was all my fault. If only I hadn't…"

The vice-captain wildly shook his head. "Da…daijobu…" He steadied his quivering voice and went on. "At least now I know Kaede is…not ready to make our relationship public…that he does not love me enough to…"

Before he could even sniff, Kogure found himself caged, protected inside Mitsui's arms. "That's not true. I am sure Rukawa didn't mean to…to reject you like that." The shooting guard knew he was making up one heck of a lie, but he would rather lie than make Kogure feel worse. He sat on Kogure's bed, cross-legged, and bade Kogure to move towards him. "Rukawa will…come home later and you'll talk about it."

Kogure buried his face on Mitsui's shoulder. "If he wants to talk, why didn't he come home sooner? I waited…he didn't come. You…you even called me and…" With the glasses removed, the boy's vision was blurry, but he looked up to meet Mitsui's eyes. "…and you came instantly…" A sob was released and Kogure's weak side came to display.

"Well, of course I came. You know I'd do anything for you. I'd even jump down from the Shohoku rooftop if you want me to," Mitsui hoarsely whispered. Gently, he stroked Kogure's back. He didn't really know how to comfort the anguished boy, and he felt his heart cracking upon hearing Kogure's sobs. Still, all he can do is try his best on whatever he can do.

"That's very sweet of you," Kogure found himself saying. "I mean…very kind of you…that's very kind of you."

Mitsui inwardly chuckled. Even in this situation, Kogure managed to remain proper and stern. Still, the shooting guard gleefully noticed that Kogure did not raise his head from where it was lying on Mitui's shoulder even if his words meant formal compliment. "You know it's true, Kogure…what I was saying. I suppose Rukawa tells you that often, too but mine is different…"

He felt Kogure's inaudible sigh through his shirt. "Kaede never…he never told me those things." Mitsui stopped stroking Kogure's back and looked down at the mass of black hair on his shoulder. "Hontou ni?"

Kogure gravely nodded and raised his head. "He…Kaede…" Tears flowed anew, unable to be restricted as reminiscence of the past became unavoidably. Mitsui tightened his hold on the vice-captain as Kogure tried to hide his tears by seeking comfort on Mitsui's chest.

"You really love him, don't you?" Mitsui felt Kogure nod against his chest. "Why? Why do you love somebody like him? You deserve to be with someone better. There are a lot of people who want your love, Kogure and you can't just go on closing your door on them."

"I do not know…" Kogure's muffled voice rose from the covered face. "I just do." With that answer, Mitsui chose to remain quiet, as he ran his fingers though Kogure's hair.

+++

"Rukawa, you better go home." Sendoh had already finished packing up his fishing tools back in his bag. "Kogure would be in a fit if he learns you are with me."

Rukawa nodded and set out for home. He looked up and saw that dusk was already coming to an end and darkness was threatening to cover the night sky. "Better hurry," he muttered.

As he reached the house however, he found the door locked. That's odd. Min-kun never locks the door. He looked up and saw that there were no lights in the house. Maybe he decided to breathe some air? Rukawa thought. He frowned as he remembered that his copy of the house keys were lying forgotten inside his locker in school. Swearing, he mounted his bike and headed for the school.

+++

Mitsui could feel Kogure's warm uniformed breathing curling on his neck and he had used up all of his willpower to prevent himself from doing something unnecessary to the vice-captain. He shifted a little to bring Kogure to a lying position when the other boy stirred.

"Oh, I must have slept," he said as he smiled at Mitsui. He placed his glasses back, his eyes now a bit brighter than an hour ago and his hair ruffled from sleep. He could see himself staring openly at the vice-captain but made no move to stop himself.

Kogure met Mitsui's stare with a questioning look. "Oh, I must be looking awful." Mitsui instantly shook his head.

To the shooting guard, he looked like a kawaii tousled angel. He watched as the vice-captain turned on the lights and the TV. "I am so sorry," he apologized. "I never even offered you something to eat."

"No it's alright. Really." Mitsui turned his attention to the TV…or rather strove to.

The effort didn't help, especially as Kogure sat beside him on the floor and offered him a tray of food. "saa, comforting me must have made you hungry."

Mitsui ate absently. "Doumo," he muttered.

Kogure was observing him closely that Mitsui could feel his ears growing red. "What are you thinking?" the vice-captain suddenly asked.

The shooting guard snapped to alert. "Nani?"

"I was asking what you were thinking. You didn't seem to be in the wavelength a while ago."

Mitsui smiled at the vice-captain. "Do you want me to make up a story or do you want me to tell you the truth?"

"Truth, of course!" Kogure's brows were raised as Mitsui looked at him.

Mitsui fixed his smoky black eyes on the vice-captain. He then replied softly, "I was thinking of cuddling you under those large blankets of yours." He silently congratulated himself as he saw Kogure blush a dark crimson.

Kogure bowed his head and looked away. Why was he suddenly feeling these butterflies fluttering all over him? Somehow he couldn't control what he is saying anymore. "I bet you say that to all those persons you flirt with," he found himself saying,

"Nani?" Mitsui paused from dining and held the vice-captain's shoulders. "Am I flirting?" Kogure couldn't help smiling as he continued. "Too bad I can't say if I am, since I have only said it to you."

"Mitsui…" Kogure looked away before he could say something not appropriate. "I…well…I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I…uhm…"

"I know." Mitsui released his shoulders. "I know you are thinking of Rukawa right now, and that you will always think of him no matter how hard I try to make you forget him."

Kogure nodded, but deep inside he disagreed. Actually, Kogure didn't even know what he was crying for, he had utterly forgot. All he was thinking of right now was how warm Mitsui was to him. Still, there is no need to tell the shooting guard that…he might just…he might…

"Mitsui…" Kogure found himself saying again.

"Hmm?" Mitsui leaned at the side of the bed. "What is it?"

The vice-captain seriously looked at him. "About Kaede…do you think he…he loves me still?"

It was a question that made Mitsui start. "Rukawa…I think he loves you, or rather he believes so."

"Then what do you believe?"

"I believe that he's just missing Sakuragi," Mitsui silently replied, unsure if he answered correctly. After all, he wouldn't want Kogure to weep again. "Maybe he thinks he loves you but in reality, he was just making up for Sakuragi's loss." He worriedly looked at his companion to see if he had hurt him. Kogure did not look so, instead he looked reflective. He then found the courage to continue.

"I was not really angry at him for loving you. I would be happy if I learn that you are happy with him. However, he's…he's just making you suffer!" Mitsui took a deep breath. "I don't like it when he hurt you so much. I mean…you don't deserve those kinds of things. I hate it when he grips you by the neck as if you're his slave. You are not meant to be, you know. You are kind and gentle and sociable and I don't think…" He trailed off he saw Kogure bit his lip and sigh. "Ko…Kogure…"

"Maybe you are right, Mitsui." Kogure rubbed his eyes beneath the glasses. "Maybe all had been so wrong. I…I had thought I loved him, too, until he…until I…you…"

"Don't speak," Mitsui hoarsely whispered. He moved his face nearer to the vice-captain.

"Mitsui…"

"Damn you, Kiminobu!" Kogure's eyes widened. Mitsui crept an inch closer. "Why are you so damn easy to love?" If Kogure knew the answer, he was unable to say so, for he found himself being thoroughly kissed by the shooting guard.

Kogure welcomed the kiss heartily. It was like finding a long lost comfort. It slipped from his mind on whether what he is doing is right or wrong, as he let Mitsui take over him.

+++

Rukawa smirked as he parked the bike to that same place once more. Luckily, the school was still open and he was able to get his house keys. He turned the knob open and went in.

Funny, he thought, as he saw two pairs of shoes on the hall. Could it be that Min-kun was having visitors this late? Maybe Akagi decided to drop by and punish Rukawa with what he did to the vice-captain. A lot of things went through the rookie's mind, so he decided to meet his lover upstairs.

Will he be angry? Will he drive me away? Rukawa thought as he crept up the stairs. I wish I don't have to explain about everything, but I doubt that Min-kun will let this pass. I just have to please him a bit.

As he neared the top of the stairs, he heard sounds coming from Kogure's room. Curious, he crept closer. The sounds were unmistakable, and Rukawa could feel his heartbeat reaching its maximum speed. Fury rising from the depth of his emotions, he turned the knob and opened the door…

+++

To Mitsui, this was like a dream come true. Kogure told him he did not mind, and he let Mitsui comfort him…to the utmost way he can. The sight, the smell, the taste, the sensations…everything was exquisite and much better than his daydreams. Silently, he swore to make this night special for that person he loves.

Kogure could not do anything, except to emit sounds and ask for more. How the shooting guard knew this way of pleasuring him, he did not know and did not want to know. All he wanted now was to be fulfilled and cherished and warmed.

"Kiminobu," he heard Mitsui rasp.

"Ha…hai…"

"Do you…" He could feel Mitsui hesitating.

Kogure tightened his grip on Mitsui's shoulders. "Yes, please…now…"

Mitsui nodded. He would do anything to make his love happy, even if it's illegal, even if it's not right. He may die tomorrow from Rukawa's hatred, that's possible, but now, he must only think of his Kiminobu.

Both of them were too preoccupied in feeling each other than they did not hear the sounds coming from below. They did not hear the slow footsteps on the stairs…but they heard the door creak open…

+++

A/N: Ahahahahaha! Another cliffhanger!!!!!!! Ahahahaha!!!!!!!!!