Title: At the End of the Road

Author: chescaOtaku

Pairing: HanaRu/RuHana; a touch of MitKo/KoMit

Genre: Shounen-ai

Status: Ongoing; 4/9 (series)

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimers:: All Slam Dunk characters mentioned below are properties of Takehiko Inoue, TOEI and his other colleagues. Only the storyline is mine. So…don't sue me. ^_^ I'm too young to go to jail. ::

===============================================================



At the End of the Road

Chapter 3



~*~

/K'so!!! Why did it have to be so hard?!? Why can't I just accept the fact that we're over!!! K'so this isn't the tensai…/ Sakuragi mumbled while he was walking in the dark streets towards his home. After the practice, he packed his things quickly and practically dashed out of the court and ran away into the darkness, leaving a bewildered gundan and basketball team behind. During that moment, he didn't care what they thought of him. He didn't give a damn if they called the tensai some weirdo or a freak of some sort. Everything was just… a living hell.

During lunch break this afternoon, he tried to start once again and forget about the foxy boy by hunting down Haruko like he was hunting food. He forced himself to think of the captain's sister all day, of those cute wide blue eyes, but it eventually shifted to eyes shaped like a fox, emitting the same deep pools of blue. Then he would imagine the rest of /his/ face and features, totally disregarding the thing about Haruko. Due to this, he banged his head on the walls, much to the annoyance of the students who passed by him. Then, he tried to concentrate on eating his food with the gundan in the rooftop and started a topic about some sexy girls they met in the streets and clubhouse when they went out. He tried his best to avoid the topic he knew his friends wanted him to talk about. Just as he was about to /succeed/, he saw a certain raven-haired, tall guy and eyes like those of a fox that could only belong to someone he knew. Then his eyes caught his (Rukawa's) and drew them like magnets.

/Kisama!! I told myself I am straight!! Why can't I ignore his pained and longing eyes!!! Those eyes full of blue depth, sparkling, telling something—ahhhh!! This isn't helping at all!!!! K'so!! Maybe… Youhei was right…/

After school, Youhei and the rest of the gundan approached Sakuragi and cornered him. They demanded their friend to reveal to them what actually happened. The redhead was surprised at his friends' actions but was touched deep inside. His gundan does not always shows this kind of /affection/ and /concern/ to him, so he decided to tell them the truth.

~*flashback*~

Sakuragi was heading out of his classroom when his best friend patted his back and the rest of the gundan appeared.

"Oi, Hanamichi!! Care to take some walk with us?" Takamiya inquired.

"Ch'. You know well that we have training today. I don't like to be punched again by that Gori. Spare me the trouble."

"Hanamichi. This is important. It will take less than… ten minutes. Come." There was a great earnestness in Youhei's eyes that made the redhead ponder. After much persuasion, Sakuragi finally agreed.

They were at the back of the gym with an atypical silence filling around the gundan, each preoccupied with his own thoughts. All they heard was several balls being dribbled, the roars of Akagi and shouts of encouragement from the team members. Several students were passing by, yet there seemed nothing going on around them. After a few minutes of silence, Sakuragi finally decided to break the ice.

"K'so!! I thought you wanted to have some talk!! It looked like we are attending some shit of a funeral!! Don't waste the tensai's time!!" The redhead was about to go when Youhei grabbed his wrists and cornered him.

"Yo…Youhei, what the hell are you doing?!"

"Hanamichi… tell us… what actually happened."

"About what?!? Look if this is just about Ka…Ru—"

"You know what the shit we're talking about. Shoot it out!!!"

Sakuragi sighed.

"Ok…I'll tell you. Just get loose with my shoulders. You give the tensai more tension…" His best friend loosened his grip on Sakuragi but the menace in his eyes never left and this made Sakuragi somehow, nervous.

"So…?"

"I… finished the relationship… because I finally came into my senses. You see… what we were doing was wrong. Totally wrong. I realized it two weeks ago, but I just can't tell it to him, until last night, when I finally had the last straw. I… love him… God only knows how much…but we can't keep on continuing this…hiding from everyone…loving the same sex…that was insane!!! What if 'kasaan finds out?! She'll surely throw me out of the house. If…if 'tousan is still here, he'll beat the stuff outta me…I just can't…." Sakuragi bent his head and stared at the ground he was stepping on. His shoulders suddenly trembled and tears started to flow down his cheeks.

"Hanamichi…"

"So…you're afraid, ne? You're afraid of being rejected by the society? You're afraid of not being accepted? You're willing to give up the one who gave you utmost happiness because of some damn reputation?! Fuck!! Hana… what happened to you?!" Youhei nearly shouted and once again grabbed his best friend's shoulders that made Sakuragi look up.

"You don't understand a thing!! You never felt this!! And why do you care so much? Which side are you on??" Sakuragi muffled under his shaky breath.

"We care. A lot. We are your friends. Your pain is ours… and we don't like to see you sad and depressed. I'm no genius to this but I'm willing to let the old Hanamichi appear again. No matter what it takes. In…order to do that…I—we must know what made you be like /that/ so we can help you. It doesn't necessarily mean that we should undergo the same situation you had."

"Youhei…" Sakuragi was stunned. That was the first time Youhei and the gundan told him such things. They went through a lot together, knew them more than half his life, but he never imagined that he meant this /much/ to them. He nearly smiled for their concern. "What are you trying to tell me then?" He asked.

"Hanamichi, I know you more than anyone. Follow what your heart says. To hell with the minds of the society. Trash reputation and pride. At first, I myself couldn't accept it either but I…we learned it all from you two. Some people may call you 'abnormal'…but there's really no such thing as 'normal' anyway. You love him. No matter how hard you try to bug him off in that mind of yours, you can't. I guess, even tensais have some weaknesses, ne?" Youhei smiled a little and patted his friend on the shoulder. He knew Sakuragi would gradually pull through and get the pieces back again. They would just have to wait.

At this, Sakuragi lightened up a bit. He finally smiled at his friends through his tears.

"Hmph. Ore wa, tensai. I have no weakness. None at all. But I guess…what you wanted me to do and consider…will take some time."

~*end, flashback*~

Sakuragi looked at his watch. It was already passed seven thirty and he was still on the streets.

/Hm…'kasaan might be worried…/

He walked a little bit faster, but the words his best friend told him not so long ago kept bugging him.

'Follow your heart…'

'There's no such thing as normal…'

'You love him…'

"Is there really something 'normal' in this world? Kaede…" Sakuragi pondered out loud.



~*~

Mitsui whistled while he was heading towards the street where he lived. The lights above the posts illuminated his tired figure and his shadow can be seen clearly. The practice today was no doubt hellish than ever before and his muscles seemed to ache everywhere. Yet, he knew he had to do it. For the team. For Anzai-sensei. For his Min-kun.

/Wonder what Rukawa and Min-kun are talking about. Guess it must be that Sakuragi. Why did he came late in the practice anyway?/ Mitsui wondered.

The former MVP would not notice the unusual behavior of the two freshmen if it weren't for his ever-observant boyfriend. When Kogure told him about those two, he himself started to observe them and found out that the way they acted around each other had changed dramatically. And he knew there was something going on.

A situation and a /something/ he was damn familiar with.

Then, he caught a glimpse of red walking rapidly towards the corner of the street. The lad was well built, had broad shoulders, tall and most of all, had a blood red colored hair.

/Say, isn't that the loud redhead monkey turning left? Hmm…might as well catch that guy up./

Mitsui Hisashi suddenly formed an idea in his mind. /Why don't I help Min- kun out?/ He thought. He then jogged his way towards where Sakuragi Hanamichi was going.



~*~

"Oi!! Sakuragi!! Matte kudasai!!"

"Eh??" Sakuragi suddenly stopped at his tracks when he heard a familiar voice nearing him. He then turned around and saw the scar-faced boy.

"Oi, Micchy!!" The redhead waved.

Mitsui jogged to where Sakuragi waved. When he got there, he was grasping for breath. "Sa…Saku…r..agi…whew…di..dn't know you're in the…sa…me…way…whew…"

"Woah, Micchy, tired already?! Hah!! I guess you're stamina is really low…no wonder you fainted during the Ryonan match!! Why don't be more like the tensai?! Always strong and has endless supply of strength…nyahahahaha!!!" Sakuragi tried his best to act normal, but the smile that was plastered in his face didn't reach his eyes. And Mitsui didn't miss that.

"Ch'. Baka. I was tired from training. I'm not like someone here who would go late in practice and be punched by Akagi you know. And how many times will I tell you not to call me /Micchy/?!" Mitsui retorted.

"Hmph!! The tensai did something…well…let's say…important. Tensais are not allowed to spread their secrets, you know. Nyahahahaha!!"

"Baka!! What was that?…tensai…pah! Ne, Sakuragi. Why were you late?" Mitsui asked seriously.

Sakuragi cursed as he and Mitsui walked together. /This guy's too pushy./ "That's out of your business Micchy."

"Was that about the Ice King? You can't lie, Sakuragi."

"Nani?! How did—Kae…uhh.. I mean, Kitsune told you something, didn't he?? Ch'! That nosy fox!!"

"Hmm…just as we guessed. There was something going on with you two, ne? You can't cover it up, Sakuragi."

"Na…nani….how…k'so!!!! 'We'!! Hell!! I knew it!!! Micchy…. I gotta go…'kasaan's worried already…" Sakuragi stammered. He started to run, but Mitsui managed to keep up with him.

"Sakuragi, doshitano? We know there's a problem between you two and—"

"Keep out of this Micchy!! Whatever that Rukawa told you was not true!! He's a damn liar!!"

"Will you let me finish first?! K'so, you're very hard to comprehend you know. Let me explain! Wait…Hmm… why don't we go to the park? Let's sort things out. And, one more thing, that Ice King told us nothing. He's the last person who would pick up a conversation. He doesn't even know how to say more than ten words, for Kami-sama's sake!!!"

"He's not some Ice King, Micchy!! If you—k'so!!" Sakuragi looked away and blushed.

"Yare, yare. I knew it."

/Is this some kind of setup?! First, Youhei….then now, Micchy!!/

~*~

The park was empty, only the sound of leaves and grasses swaying and two baritone voices can be heard. The lights attached to the electrical posts enlightened the two figures seated on the swings and the tranquil environment that surrounded them.

"Nani yo?!?!"

"Sakuragi!!! You're chasing the birds off with that voice. You'd scare the shit out of the people passing here!! Tone it down! And… how come you're so surprised? As if you are not engage in the same kind of… relationship." Mitsui retorted.

The senior succeeded in persuading Sakuragi in going with him to have some, well, guy-to-guy talk. He wanted to help his lover and, moreover, he was intrigued what was going on between the two rookies. There was something wrong, utterly wrong about their situation. He wanted to find out what and how it happened. He was never in good terms before with those two troublemakers (as if he isn't himself), but when it affected their performance, he would do anything to make them better. Their sudden change of attitude was very evident for it not to be noticed. So he began talking with the redhead by revealing his /own/ relationship with the other senior, Kogure Kiminobu. Through this, he believed that Sakuragi would at least; in some ways feel comfortable and…accepted. He knew from experience that talking to somebody about same gender love made the one speaking somehow, alienated from the 'normal' world of people.

"I mean, you're such a bad ass, Micchy!! Wonder what potion did you let Megane-kun drink….look… the two of you…nyahahahahaha!!!" Sakuragi was nevertheless shocked to the senior's revelation. Mitsui to him looked so matured, so straight. Having a same relationship with the mother hen, ever so gentle, honor student like Kogure was the last thing in his mind about the person next to him. But deep inside, he felt a sense of relief washed over him. He suddenly felt that he was not all alone; that there was someone who might actually understand what dilemma he was going through. He suddenly felt strong again and the feeling of 'abnormality' was slowly passing away.

"Pah!!! And I wonder what that Ice Ki—I mean, /Rukawa/ saw in a loud, egotistical, obnoxious monkey like you. I guess opposites attract…" Mitsui teased back.

"Nanda yo?! How dare you insult the tensai like that?! Hn! I'll let that pass for now…."

Then there was silence between them for a while.

"Micchy…we /were/ engaged in the same relationship…/before/. It was all over…you see… I want to prove that I'm…straight."

"Do…do…shite? Si…since when?!" It was now Mitsui's turn to be shocked.

"Only last night, actually. The reason why I was late was because Youhei and the others cornered me. They demanded what happened. Just like what you are doing now."

"Sou ka."

"Hmm…what we were doing was wrong. Really wrong. You know what the hell I mean Micchy. Don't pretend that you don't."

"So…you mean that even though Min-kun and I love each other…the love we feel is wrong too? Love is never wrong, baka. Not at least in the eyes of our hearts."

"Micchy….but…aren't you afraid of rejection? From the people? I mean, how were you able to pull through?"

"To tell you the truth, we went through the same turmoil. But, I guess, it was faith and love that kept us up 'til now. Have you….err…talked to Rukawa?"

"Talk?! After I broke up with him? Nah, not a chance. He hates my guts now. And…I won't take back what I told him. But…"

"If you only witnessed his state before you came. He seemed kinda lost, if case you don't know., /tensai/. I believe…he still loves you. I can see some longing in his eyes. We were paired up when we did some basics. Akagi paired Min-kun with Yasuda, that's why. Hell, he even failed to catch some balls I passed to him!!! I mean, Rukawa?! "

"Ka…kaede….sou desu ne…?" Sakuragi seemed distant for a while.

"Listen Sakuragi, love is never wrong. Min-kun taught me that. Think about it. Think how lucky you are… next time you may not have the chance to hold him again. Sometimes…fate has plans you know. Take him back while you still can."

'Take him back while you still can…'

'Love is never wrong…'

'Follow your heart…'



~*tbc*~



~*~

a/n:: ok…that was the third chapter. I did have some writer's block while I was at the part where Mitsui and Sakuragi were having a talk. So it took me two and a half days to finish this. You may notice that too many advices are given to our poor redhead and the events seem to fly away so quickly. It felt like they broke up for several years already, ne? well, that was all intentional. I have the plans for the rest of the upcoming chapters and what I wrote above was part of it. you'll soon know why. ^_^

to mayumi: well, thanks for the reminder you gave me at that review. ^_^ but also let me remind you that in this story, characters will be portrayed differently (I told that in the past chappies), so as to 'synchronize' with the plot intended. Mitsui having some inferiority complex and revealing it to the redhead will not help. ^_^ but don't worry, I haven't forgotten that complex of his. Also, revealing that weakness to Kogure will greatly affect the part they will play in this story. How can the both of them advice Hana and Ru if they themselves have a big problem, ne? ^_^ anywayz…thanks for that. You gave me a new idea for a MitKo fic…or rather a side story to this one. ^_^

to yuuki-chan: hey you!!! ^_^ this is the third part…hope you liked it!! don't worry, yuuki, Me-- don't like sad endings. ^_^

ok, please review!! They are very, very much appreciated!! ^_^ other C&Cs are welcome, mail me at chesca14316@yahoo.com. Flames, however, will be ridiculed at. ^_^ ja!!