Fic

Genre: Ruhana

Title: Time will tell., 15/15

Author: F5C

Rating: PG

Posted: Fanfiction.net

E-mail: chatterbox_shil@yahoo.com

~*~

Rukawa unlocked the house door and stepped into the dark empty abode. //Ahh. home sweet home//. Without turning on the lights he headed to the kitchen got himself a light snack, then proceeded to his bedroom. He opened the door and surveyed his room. //it's been a while// he sighed and aimlessly threw his bag down before flopping onto his bed. //Nothing's changed//. He buried his face deep into his pillow and his head snapped up on noticing the lingering scent. //Akira.// It was all over the room. on his pillow, his sheets, his clothes, everywhere.

FLASHBACK

"Why are you with him if you don't love him?"

END OF FLASHBACK

//Why indeed?// he turned over and stared at the ceiling searchingly. //Is it really that easy? If you like a person, tell him so and that's it? Life isn't that easy. What if he rejects me? But at least you'll have got it out of your system.// the ringing of the phone snapped him out of his daze and he turned to stare at his phone. It was only then that he realized the answering machine had a bleeping red light. He had messages. Without bothering about the phone he returned to staring at the ceiling.

'You've reached the Rukawa residence. Sorry, we aren't available at the moment, but if you leave your name and number we will get back to you as soon as possible *bleep* Hey Kaede? Are you back yet? Listen we need to talk. how about lunch tomorrow. Come on Kaede if you're there pick up the receiver. Never mind, just meet me at Danny's for lunch tomorrow, say about two. Ja'

//Akira//

FLASHBACK

He watched from the shadows as his boyfriend played and teased the red head. Neither of them seemed to sense his presence and that was good as he wanted to remain an invisible spectator. *The red head falls but Sendoh catches him in time* His breath hitched as he saw the proximity of the two //Why can't that be me? Why is it Sendoh and not me?// A slicing pain erupted in his chest //Because Sendoh easily expresses himself and is not afraid of the consequences, unlike you, you who are a major coward// his inner conscience answered. //I need to get away from here, from Akira, from Hanamichi//

END OF FLASHBACK

Without a second thought, he had run away to his family's private chalet on the beach, where he wasted three days drowning in self-pity and trying to figure out what to do next. //Akira. it's over isn't it?// A lone tear trickled out of the corner of his eye as he shut them and was finally overcome by fatigue. He slept a dreamless sleep, and for the first time in a long time his red winged angel didn't bless his dreams and he didn't have anybody to snuggle up to. He was alone, all alone.

~*~

He had just found out that basketball practice had been cancelled, as the seniors had some stupid seminar to attend //So that's why he knew that he could ask me out for lunch today. He must have found out about it from that d'aho. I guess I should go and meet up with him//. Rukawa entered Danny's a little after two in the afternoon and on surveying the tables he immediately spotted Sendoh sitting at the corner booth. Ignoring the looks of admiration that all the girls in the vicinity were showering on him, he proceeded towards the table. "Kaede. where you've been? I've been stalking your house for the past few days" "I told you I wasn't going to be home" he answered monotonously "Excuse me sirs, but would you like to order now" a petite waitress asked. Sendoh ordered and flashed her, his mega watt when he was done resulting in her turning into a puddle on the floor. "And you sir" she inquired a slight blush still lingering on her cheeks. He ordered an orange juice and that was it. When the waitress had left them Sendoh looked curiously at the boy in front of him "Orange juice? That's it? You need to eat more Kaede-kun" Rukawa glared at the spiky haired player opposite him on hearing the endearment. "Don't call me that" "Why not. I think it is cute?" he replied pouting. "Akira *sigh* Why did you call me here? We normally only go out at night, so why the change?" "Err. well I've been thinking and I realized that" "That you don't love me right? Well good. so now 'we' are over and now I am going to go home. Ja"

"Huh? Ma-matte! No Kaede-kun *earns him another glare* Matte! I don't think you understand!" he stammered out and on realizing that his protestations were falling on deaf ears he lunged for the departing figure and dragged him back to his seat. It earned him a few stares from the other customers but he completely ignored them and on sitting Rukawa down he proceeded to look at his face. It was the usual blank emotionless, bored mask that it always was. //Damn! I didn't expect him to react like that, what the hell should I do?// Now that he had Rukawa sitting opposite him once again, he was at a loss for words. //Shit! What the hell do I say// he just kept on staring blankly at the boy's face whilst trying to formulate a response. "Rukawa let me explain myself. You see I had a talk with Sakuragi's friend Sam and she made me realize that I don't actually love you. I just am infatuated with you. isn't that great. Wait that's not what I meant! What I mean is that is good cause I know that you also don't love me, after all you are in love with Sakuragi right? So what I was planning on saying was, yes 'we' are over but I'll help you get the red head. Okay?" he ended, fairly happy with himself for finally managing to get it out and over with. He turned to gauge the fox eyed boy's reaction only to realize that he was asleep. *Sweatdrop* he had slept through the whole thing and with that he allowed his head to flop down dejectedly and land on the table with a rather loud *THUD*

The loud noise and shaking table woke Rukawa and he reacted in the only manner known. His fist immediately sprung forward colliding with Sendoh head. "Itai!!!" Sendoh yelled Rukawa's eye lids slowly lifted and only then did he realize that he had punched the Ryonan player. "Baka" "Matte! Don't sleep! I need to tell you this" "Uh sirs. your food is ready" Waitress bends over and quickly serves the two boys. "Kaede?" Sendoh looked up from his food only to realize that this was going to be more difficult than he had expected.

Finally lunch was over and Sendoh had managed to keep him awake long enough to tell him about his idea. Rukawa's reaction was classic

FLASHBACK "So I decided that I'll help you get the red head" Sendoh announced chirpily Rukawa nodded his head dumbly, finally glad that he would now be able to get his sleep. Sendoh watched from across the table as the raven haired boy's eye lids closed and he once again fell asleep. In no time at all a small bubble was forming from his nose and a narrow trail of drool escaped the corner of his lips. Then with out warning his head jerked up and he stared at Sendoh with wide eyes before asking in a threatening tone "Nani?" END OF FLASHBACK

//So, I was wrong. Sendoh isn't going out with Hanamichi. Hanamichi is still single//. He hated to admit it, but talking with Sendoh did actually help. Not that they were actually talking, Sendoh talked while he just glared, nodded or dozed off. For the first time since that d'aho had returned Rukawa actually felt carefree. He was happy, not exceedingly happy, but happy enough for his thoughts to be clear and focused. His face obviously didn't show his inner feelings, hell no! His exterior still remained as icy and aloof as an ice cube could get, however his eyes did sparkle with a certain delight. //Sendoh's going to help me get him// thinks about Sendoh's plan. He didn't think that it would work, life couldn't be that easy, but on the other hand Rukawa was sick and tired of being a coward while he saw his love go around and unconsciously grab other people's attention. //He is mine. Mine only// He glanced at the spiky haired boy walking beside him //Hmm.. I never knew that Sendoh could actually give good advise// "Akira." "Huh?" "Arigato" and with that he walked away leaving the Ryonan player alone on the sidewalk and staring at his back.

//Oh my god! He said 'thank you'. Wow! I think pigs must be flying!// he looked up and stared at the clear sky. A smile crept on to his lips whilst his head was still upturned //Kaede. I think Hanamichi is just what you need. Now all you got to do is tell him//

~*~

Rukawa entered his house alone and once again was affected by the stillness and emptiness of it all. No matter how long it had been, he still couldn't get use to the emptiness. He headed up and decided to listen to all his messages.

He sighed, his father had called twice and he was suppose to return the call as soon as possible. //Father. yeah right!// He had been four when his parents got a divorce and it wasn't until he was 11 that he next saw his father, that too was only because his mother had passed away. His father hardly noticed him, after all he did have a new family now, so he was more then readily allowed to stay all alone in Japan. He'd been alone for the past 4 years but that was going to change. A small smile found its way onto his face //D'aho//

FLASHBACK

It had been another sleepless night for his mother, and as per usual she snuck into his room and watched him sleep. She always thought that he was asleep but in actual fact he was watching her as well. He saw the tears that streamed down her face. On this particular night, her condition was totally different. She seemed calm but her eyes reflected anguish and longing. She bent down by his figure and whispered to him "Kaede. never ever tell someone you love them unless you mean it. Once it has been said you can never take it back. Be careful to who you say these words to." She sealed her advice with a soft kiss and slept off in his room next to him

6 months later she died of cancer.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Kaasan. I am sure" without wasting another moment Rukawa ran down, grabbed his jacket and barged out of his house.

~*~

It hadn't been the best of days for Hanamichi. He finally got back his math test paper and just the thought of it riled him up. He had got a 70! Can you believe it a 70! Yohei who had copied from him during the test got a 75! He was really pissed off by that and it did result in several head banging sessions, first with the gundam, then with the junior basketball player who reminded him that there was no practice and finally with the sidewalk near his house. //I can't believe it! How could I? I mean one plus one? Duh! But nooo I had to put eleven! Since when did one plus one give you eleven? That's just plain ridiculous//

FLASHBACK "I can't believe I wrote that! I mean ELEVEN? I mean only an idiot would write that" "So it is perfectly explainable then! You being the idiot that you are did" but Takamiya was cut off with a hard head butt.

END OF FLASHBACK

And then came that stupid cop

FLASHBACK

"ARGH!!!!!" He head butted the closest thing possible, the wall. After venting as much anger as possible, he looked up at the wall only to see that the cement had cracked and the paint was now peeling. //Yikes! I wonder if that counts as defacing community property?// "Oi matte! You there!" Hanamichi turned around only to see that a cop was talking to him. "Huh?" "Did you do this?" the cop asked sternly using his baton and pointing to the wall "Err. no I didn't" "Look here boy! Don't lie to me. I saw you do it. follow me, damaging community property is a serious juvenile offense" the cop turns around only to see a dust trail and a red head quickly vanishing around the next turn. "MATTE!!" cop runs after him.

END OF FLASHBACK

For a doughnut consuming person working for the government, that cop was in better shape then Hanamichi had expected. He had spent half an hour running away from that stupid cop and finally when he thought he could walk home in peace, a little bird decides to 'poo' on his head. //Stupid baka bird! If get my hands on that bird I will so kill it! No wait I'll torture it first// Hanamichi thought of the various torturing techniques he could use on the bird while opening his house door.

A while later he had a bath and gotten rid of the icky bird shit. He was in the midst of toweling his hair dry when he heard the doorbell. It kept on ringing nonstop and its shrill sound was adding to his headache. "Chotte matte!" "Oi I said CHOTTE MATTE!! STOP RINGING THE BELL ALREADY" he opened the door only to be greeted with the most unexpected sight.

"Teme Kitsune! Why the hell did you have to ring the bell like that? You baka kitsune! What do you want?" "Sakuragi I need to tell you something" he said softly "Nanda yo? You baka kitsune! You're wasting the Tensai's precious time!" "Hanamichi I think I love you!" "Nani?" he sputtered out and took a step back.

Rukawa saw the red head involuntary step back and he ceased to opportunity to step into the house and shut the door. He was a guy of few words and he now knew why. He had finally confessed and though a small part of him was rejoicing due to the pleasure of being released from the secret the other three quarters was now quaking with fear. Obviously the red head hadn't heard him very well otherwise there should be some reaction by now. Gathering the minutest amount of courage left, he whispered "Aishteru Hanamichi"

Hanamichi stared at the boy standing opposite him. //Oh! This day just keeps on getting better and better. I wonder who set him up to this?// "BAKA KITSUNE!! You don't say things like that unless you mean it! Who set you up to this? Micchy? Ryochin? Who the hell corned you into doing this? Do you seriously hate me that much that you are even so willing to play with my feelings? Well you know what! Screw you!" and with that he punched the raven haired boy in his gut, venting all his exasperation in the punch.

Rukawa's eyes widened and with a soft umphf he fell back against the door. He stared at the red head in front of him. He had somewhat expected this sort of a reaction although his naïve side did wish for a fairy tale end. However the fact that it had now happened was a totally different thing. No matter how much he had prepared himself for a rejection the reality of the situation still manage to slice through him like being stabbed simultaneously with 10 different poison coated knifes. //And this is why I usually shut up// He was still reeling from the first blow but out of the corner of his eye he saw the red head attack him once more.

Hanamichi swung his fist at the fox eyed boy now leaning against the door //he chose the wrong day to make an ass of me// however when his fist collided against the door, his eyes widened in surprise and he reeled back quickly both in shock and pain. He should have fallen backwards, but Rukawa had grabbed hold of towel's ends which were hanging around his neck and pulled him forward. For a second there he felt like a yoyo but his mind complete crashed when he felt a pair of soft warm lips press against his. //What the hell?!// As soon as his mind registered what was going on his body started to resist. He pressed his palms against the other boy's toned chest but as he was still reeling from shock, it was what you would call a mighty feeble attempt.

Hanamichi struggled with whatever strength he could muster, he twisted and pushed but to no avail. He was now with his back against the door, his legs apart and being held that way with Rukawa's knees, Rukawa's body firmly pushed against his and with his right hand still holding the towel, Rukawa used his left hand to tip the red head's chin. Hanamichi finally gave up to the other boy's ministrations. He allowed himself to be held captive by those warm wet lips.

Rukawa took this as a sign and immediately his tongue darted out and started licking the red head's supple lips, tracing it gently and probing it apart daringly. The red head still clamped his lips shut however Rukawa decided to change that by carefully taking the red head bottom lip and nibbling at it.

Hanamichi didn't know how to react. The kitsune was kissing him in his own house and he wasn't able to do anything about it. New sensations overwhelmed his every nerve ending as his bottom lip was now being nibbled. He let out a soft yelp, but that was drowned out. Rukawa had nibbled a bit too hard, hard enough to draw blood but now as he sucked on the red head's bleeding lip he felt the hands against his chest soften. Hanamichi felt like melting into a puddle of mush right there. He was being sucked, he felt Rukawa play with his bleeding lip and finally he sucked it hard. Hanamichi couldn't stifle the moan that rose up his throat. Ruakawa heard the moan and ceased the moment to dart his tongue into the warm cavern. It was this cavern that he had dreamt of for oh so many nights. He allowed his tongue to explore every inch of the sweet haven. Hanamichi felt the hair on his neck stand due to the friction between both their tongues. He was now obviously enjoying the kiss and soon enough he too became a little more daring. Using his tongue he started jabbing it at Rukawa's at first for fun but soon enough he gave way and slid his tongue over the other savoring the other boy's citrus tasting mouth. Finally they broke apart as their lungs felt like they could explode.

Rukawa looked at the flushed boy he was now leaning against his body, with his head against his neck, heaving in air. He bent forward and for a while he allowed his breath to caress the red head ear. "Aishteru Hana. aishteru. I am not playing with you. I don't do that. But I seriously love you Hana. Aishteru"

Hanamichi felt all warm and tingly as Rukawa breath on his ear but as soon as he heard what was being said his head snapped up and he stared at those blue eyes.// "So capable of expression yet so cold all the time"// he had said that the day he injured his wrist and only now did he realize how right he was. Those blue eyes were now flooded with every imaginable emotion. Agony, lust, pleasure, happiness, pain, anguish and so on. They just kept on staring at each other for those few silent minutes. Neither willing to break the moment. Finally, the red head tilted his head upwards and sighed.

"But I don't think I love you Rukawa"

~OWARI~