Author: miku
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer applies in this fic.
Warning: This story contains shounen-ai (boy/boy relationship) and if that offends you, better leave. I may add some lime or something like that (m.a.y.b.e) but I'll warn you before you can proceed.
Very well… I already made 8 chapters! Take that note, minna! 8 chapters!! So far it had been my greatest feat! ^^; Oh well…
I'm just happy!
This chapter's Rukawa's POV of the things which happened before. And I mean before. From Sakuragi walking with him to Sakuragi unintentionally revealing his feelings. ^^;
For SenRu fans, you might be asking where Sendoh is? He's still out there. The next chapter would be his I guess.
For HanaRu fans, well… the two had quite a fair share of scenes, right?
And about this being SenRu or HanaRu… the usual minna, let's just wait and see and what happens!
I hope you'll enjoy reading!
Part Eight
The World is Weird
Sakuragi had been very weird these days, Rukawa thought. The redhead had been acting so kind and all. He walked him to his apartment again. He was actually getting comfortable with it already. He had never thought that he would like the idea of walking with someone again.
Sakuragi would sometimes surprise him by suddenly appearing during lunch hours. At first, he was irritated by it since the redhead could be so loud at times. But then, like the walk home, he was getting at ease with it and was even actually enjoying it.
Yes. He was beginning to enjoy that do'aho's presence and that was what bothered him.
He had been scared- scared that someday, what happened to him in the past would happen again. And yes, his feared time had come. He was now actually getting close to someone, someone who he never thought he would actually like even the tiniest bit, and was now getting afraid that Sakuragi would wake up one day and return to his usual state. The state that hated (well, not really hated but something like that) him so much.
However, there's no certainty about that anyway. So should he risk his feeling? Should he risk being left alone again?
Perhaps it would be worth it anyway. At least… at least even for a short moment he could be a different Rukawa.
But he was not. He had never been different.
Whenever he's with Sakuragi, he would only face him expressionless, utter monosyllabic words, snort or shrug. At least he was able to fight off his sleep.
But then, he felt like he was… taking Sakuragi's kindness for granted. He had never showed that he appreciated what the redhead had done and was doing for him. Perhaps someday he could.
Today, he was awakened by Sakuragi who was literally banging his door.
They went out for lunch and it was Sakuragi's treat.
He felt awkward really.
Why? Because it did not seem right.
Why? Because Sakuragi would be paying for their lunch.
And what's so wrong with that?
He was just not used to it. And because it really seemed, and felt, awkward… it's like they had a date or something…
He laughed at himself for thinking that. Of course they just had lunch together. It would not mean that if Sakuragi paid for the bill then it was already a date right? How stupid was he to think about that at first. How could he be so… overreacting like the time Sakuragi called and told him he could not sleep because he was thinking of him.
Until now, Rukawa did not know why Sakuragi told him that.
And after that, the redhead had been very kind to him.
A certain answer had been nagging his mind for so long but he could not accept it. And what was that?
That Sakuragi, perhaps, likes him.
Rukawa would not believe it. He could not get himself to believe it or even think about any possibility of it.
First, they are both males. Second, Sakuragi is straight – one proof of that is his undying devotion to Haruko. Third, he knows he is straight but he could not prove it though since he had never liked any girls at the present. But the fact that he had never liked a guy for that matter would be enough as evidence, right?
Fourth, it just seemed very unlikely to happen.
But then, it happened.
Sakuragi just unintentionally stated (or something like that) that he likes him.
No. Sakuragi obliviously confessed it and Ryota was the one who proclaimed it to the world.
And now, here he was, lying in his bed, confused. Did Sakuragi really mean it? Was that true? Could it be that Sakuragi really likes him? And why was he so disturbed anyway? If this happened to other man, he was sure that they would not mind it, not think about it, or even be annoyed of it. But he was not annoyed. He was bothered. He was confused. And he was scared.
Scared to find out the truth.
The phone rang. He did not want to answer it because he was afraid that it would only bring him something he did not want to have.
But should he escape? Should he hide? No. It would only bring him nothing. And perhaps, this call would just be unimportant.
So he stood up, picked up the phone, and uttered a boring "hello".
"Rukawa-kun! Good thing! I thought that you were already sleeping!" a familiar cheerful voice greeted to him. He recognized it quickly having shared a number of one-on-ones with this guy.
Yeah. Sleep… He could not believe it himself that he was actually having a hard time to sleep! "What do you want?" he asked tiredly.
It took a long time for the other line to speak and Rukawa was getting impatient of waiting. At last, the caller finally spoke. "I was just wondering if you would like to spend sometime with me tomorrow…"
Rukawa raised one delicate eyebrow, "You mean one-on-one?"
It took another moment of waiting before the other line answered, "No. Just to hang around, you know…"
Rukawa thought for a moment. The idea did not sound so bad. Yeah. Maybe this would help him relax somehow. Maybe this would help him to clear up his mind or forget about all the events that happened today. However, it seemed weird. Having this guy to ask him to just hang out with. He never thought that he would ever receive such invitation from him.
But he actually liked it. It was always welcome, to be honest. But the invitation just never happened to come. Before. But now, it's here. Would he refuse it? No.
Everything seemed getting weirder and weirder everyday.
"So?" the caller asked for his answer.
"Okay. What time?"
He could almost hear the other line hissed in whatever emotion. Rukawa just rolled his eyes.
"Well… what about ten in the morning? Would that be alright?" the man's voice seemed… weird all of the sudden – like he was in a hurry or something…
"It's fine. Where?" he asked, still with his emotionless tone.
"Mmm… what about in front of the video store downtown Kanagawa? The one near the court where we sometimes play."
He knew the place quickly. "Okay."
"Thanks! I guess you want to sleep now?"
Yeah… He was already feeling drowsy… with all the weird stuff happening and all… "Yeah…"
"Okay. Have a good night, Rukawa-kun! Thanks again!"
Ch. Why do you sound so thankful? As if I've done the most wonderful thing in your life. "Yeah…" he replied and hung up.
With the thought that "the world is weird today", Rukawa fell asleep.
To be continued
Miku: I guess you know the man already! ^_^ Well, anyway… that's just for an added mystery (!?) ^^; (Duh! As if it really added a mystery!) Anyway, tell me what you think of the story! Comments and suggestions are welcome. No flames for now please. At least not now. I don't want to feel depress until I finish the story. Flames and criticisms would be welcome after the last chapter, okay?
Ja now minna! Thanks for reading!
Next chapter would be on Sendoh! Yohei would be in one of the chapters too! I like Yohei! He's so kind and sweet!! ^^; Sakuragi's very lucky to have him as his best friend! ^^;