A Different Path

Disclaimers: Slam Dunk and all mentioned [Japanese] characters are not mine, they belong to Takehiko Inoue-sama, the American cast are made-up characters.
Notes and Warnings: My mistake. 'Will-be' a RuHanaRu shounen ai. Rukawa and Sakuragi just found out they'll be housemates. Romantic? *shakes head* Let them change your mind ^_~

Chapter 2 - Rukawa's Solution?

Okay.

So he's now housemates with his most hated person in the whole world. Actually, 'hate' was an understatement. He didn't hate him. He despised him. His blood would boil and evaporate just by the mere mention of his name. And not only that, the mere sound of his name was not even half of what he hated. It was his sound itself that was brutally annoying.

"You stupid fox! Hah! I knew you had something going on behind my back. Not only did you follow me here, but you also took your time and tried to look for the house I'll be staying! One hell of a stalker you are! Wait 'till the others hear about this...and don't think I'll stop you from leaving! I'm glad you're leaving, like I wanna live with a dumb fox like you..."

Yack yack yack...is that idiot even capable of shutting up?

Kaede rolled his eyes, trying to block out that booming voice despite the thickness of his door. And that dumb uncle of Hanamichi's actually thought he could live with his nephew under one roof?! Over his dead body!

"Kaede, please reconsider. I promise that my nephew won't be much of a problem. And if you want, I'll give you one free month from your rental fee!" came Mr. Sakuragi's voice. Truth to be told, Kaede found himself very stupid not to notice that the apartment owner, apart from being obviously Japanese, had 'Sakuragi' as his surname. He knew he should've come with his uncle when he signed the contracts.

He sighed. He knew his uncle would kill him for running back to him at such an early period, considering that they did pay for the whole semester. But maybe if he could explain that he'll die first before he settled with a red-haired monkey that he had considered as something worse than a nightmare ever since highschool...

Yes, that's it. He's not going to be caught dead living with that ahou.

"Aaw, unc! Let the idiot go, he wants to leave anyway!"

"Quiet, Hanamichi! If you remember, you're not paying me anything in return of letting you live here, this was already a huge favor from Mr. Rukawa!"

Huge? More than huge, you old fart! Kaede rolled his eyes. Obviously, the old man needed a little convincing.

The door of the closed room from which both Sakuragi's stood open, revealing a smug Kaede. He glared at Hanamichi. "I'll pay, and I'll stay. But only if that do'ahou leaves."

Hanamichi snapped. "What did you call me?!"

Without missing a beat, Kaede repeated. "Do'ahou."

"Temeee! You think you're so great, baka kitsune!"

"Hanamichi! Please! Stop picking fights!" cried Mr. Sakuragi.

Hanamichi frowned. "He started it!" he retorted. "Why can't I just live with you in your house, unc?"

Mr. Sakuragi sighed, scratching his head. "I told you, I have a family to accommodate! Unless you want to sleep in the couch..."

"Why not? He's dumb enough not to notice the difference between a bed and a couch anyway," said a now very irritated and uncharacteristically talkative Kaede, who in turn, received a dark glare from Hanamichi.

Hanamichi turned back to his uncle. "What about the other house?" he continued asking.

"I don't think they'll appreciate having a stupid monkey who can't stop yapping," replied Kaede, making sure he looked away before Hanamichi could snap something back at him.

Mr. Sakuragi couldn't have imagined how the two boys survived three years together in highschool. Much as he's doubting they can survive under the same roof now, he knew there was no other choice. "Mr. Wilson also has his family. As you may have noticed, he has a big household, even the couches are all used up," he explained, a weary sigh escaping him yet again.

"Maybe he can sleep on the floor," replied Kaede.

"Urusai!" snapped Hanamichi. He then face-faulted and turned to his uncle. "Demo..."

Kaede, who accidentally caught Mr. Sakuragi's pleading eyes, stepped back. He looked away stubbornly. "I'm leaving," he said, his voice in an unfeigned seriousness. He stepped back into his room and started fixing his things. Because he did intend to leave.

* * * * * * * * * *

Hell!

Bloody hell!

Kaede couldn't help but bumping his head repeatedly on the wooden study table, wishing that the earth beneath him would just open up and swallow him alive. Maybe the pain of the fiery pits of the underworld would be a better paradise than a whole school year with this brainless moron for a human being. Sometimes he'd even doubt that the do'ahou was a human being. He supposed he couldn't blame Kiyota Nobunaga, a student from one of their rival schools back in highschool, from calling Hanamichi what the idiot resembled so much. A monkey. Not that Nobunaga didn't resemble a monkey himself...

Agh! Snap out if Kaede and stop thinking about the past!

Kaede scowled, regretting that he thought of that other stupid monkey as well. It certainly did not help his predicament. Why did it seem like he lived in a zoo during his highschool life? And the fact that the do'ahou was calling him 'kitsune' just made the zoo thing worse.

That idiot...

"Hey! How come you get the master bedroom?! My room is not even half the size of yours!" came Hanamichi's annoying voice again.

Kaede didn't even suppress his growl. "Ahou. The only difference is that mine is connected with a bathroom."

Hanamichi peeked in. Well, Kaede was right. The rooms did have the same size. But Hanamichi's not going to admit that. "No they're not! And how come you get the bathroom! What if I want a bathroom too?!" he whined some more.

Brows were definitely twitching. "Your bathroom is right across your room," he said, pointing at a certain door across the hall.

Hanamichi looked back. And sure enough, there was a bathroom right across his room. But he's not going to be defeated by a dumb fox, as he calls it. He remained undaunted. "But your bathroom is nicer! How come I--"

"Hanamichi! Stop annoying Mr. Rukawa, all right?!" cried Mr. Sakuragi from downstairs. He obviously heard Hanamichi's outbursts. No surprise in that though. Kaede won't even be surprised if the house at the end of the street would hear Hanamichi's voice. Actually, he wouldn't even be surprised if they'll receive phone calls asking the dumb ahou to shut the hell up.

Kaede sighed. He smoothly raked a hand in his hair, wearily rubbing off the drowsiness from his eyes lest the red-haired do'ahou tampers with his things. It was all he could do unless he start bumping his head on the now dented table again.

Just when he was about to leave the other night, it was perfect timing for his own uncle to drop by and visit. Kaede couldn't count how many times he had cursed his luck while he helplessly watched Mr. Sakuragi plead with his uncle, and saying some points about the signed contract and so on and so forth. He didn't even expect to be let go. By the moment he saw his uncle knock on the front door, he knew he was doomed.

"Oi, kitsune! Stop drooling in your sleep there and help me out!" cried Hanamichi. He was pulling two humongous bags behind him, and a few others were stacked not-so-neatly just by the staircase.

Kaede scowled. "Why would I want to do that?" he asked mockingly, turning away.

"Temeee!!! Quit being a spoiled sport and get your fat bum in here!"

"Hn. Iya da."

"Kitsune---!!!"

"Hanamichi! I thought I told you to--"

All other words were starting to drift away from Kaede. Eventually, sleep, as usual, took over despite his attempt to push it away. He was tired, and by all means, he had no intention of helping the ahou out. And as he slept, only one thing remained in his mind.

Damn.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Kaede! Hanamichi! Hey!"

Oh hell.

As if the few nights before weren't torture enough. If it wouldn't be so absurd to see him do so, Kaede would've cried out and bashed his head on a nearby lamp post.

"He-ey! Alex!" yelled the moron beside him, title dubbed by Kaede himself.

Alex grinned and ran to them. Kaede momentarily asked himself why he was even walking with this red-haired monkey. Did fate really hate him so much? Just this morning, the timing of his door and Hanamichi's opening at the same time was doubtfully coincidental. They ate together on the table, repressing their insults for the other just for the sake of Mr. Sakuragi's rising blood pressure.

During the weekends, they have clearly shown the poor man a clear view of what their life was back in Kanagawa. They fight over the simplest of things. Laundry, the use of the television, eventually the position on the couch after they realized that they were watching the same thing in the first place, you name it. They'll even fight over a God-forsaken piece of paper if given the chance. He could even remember fighting with Hanamichi over a piece of bread when a whole platter-full remained untouched by both of them laid in the middle of the table.

He sighed, remembering the huge sweatdrops Hanamichi's uncle had whenever he'd come and visit the two. He's been nice enough to prepare them both breakfast during the past few days, probably a make-up favor for the obviously huge favor he had from Kaede.

"Great to see you both early! Yo, Kaede, I thought you tend to skip early classes so you can sleep?" he asked, grinning up at the raven-haired boy.

Kaede scowled. "None of your business," he snapped, looking away. Actually, he figured that he can't stand another hour seeing his clean house ruined by an oversized monkey like Hanamichi. He thought that coming to school might ease him off a bit. Unfortunately, he had failed to check Hanamichi's schedule. It looks like the bloke also had an early class like he did.

Not in the least bit insulted, Alex just held up a peace sign and turned to Hanamichi. "How about you? What's your first class?" he asked.

"Anatomy," replied Hanamichi, grinning back.

Kaede's eyes snapped open. Anatomy?

"What do you mean Anatomy?" he asked, obviously disturbed. He's not dumb not to notice that he's been talking a lot lately despite his reputation, but can anybody blame him? He's living with a definitely crazed moron and just now he discovers that he has the same classes with him as well?? What else could he do lest he start running towards the street to commit bloody suicide?

Kami-sama...what have I done to anger you so much?

Hanamichi blinked. "Wait a sec...don't tell me you have the same class too!" he yelled out, poking Kaede.

Frustrated, Kaede scowled and turned away.

Alex though, unlike the other two, was amused. "Oh fun! You get to be classmates, too! That's really sweet, isn't it Kaede?" he teased, patting Kaede's back. He wasn't even surprised when he received yet another death glare. He seems to be getting those quite a lot lately.

Hanamichi was just as annoyed as Kaede. "You dumb fox! I knew you were stalking me!" he cried out accusingly.

"Moron," Kaede muttered, not knowing what else to say. Not that he doubted he'd say anything else that would make sense at a time like this anyway.

"You better not sit beside me!"

"What idiot would want to sit beside a hyperactive monkey like you?"

"Hey hey!" cried Alex, waving a hand between the two. If he hadn't known better, he could've sworn he could feel the tense electricity that flowed between the two just by their glares. He grinned uneasily. "Calm down, you two," he said, easing them both.

Not that they were eased at all.

"I'm serious! Stay away from me, you dumb fox!" said Hanamichi, turning his back and heading towards the classrooms.

Thick, black brows twitched, signaling Kaede's losing patience. But he decided that saying any more words would just have him end up in yet another fight with the idiot, so he kept his silence. But he eventually followed the redhead's path, having no other choice. No use skipping class now, even if it was gravely tempting. His uncle had told him that one more failing mark and he'll have his head chopped off.

Behind the two's back, the blonde boy shook his head, watching them bicker again by the time Hanamichi noticed Kaede following him. He sighed. "They make such a cute pair," he said, noting that he should say it under the two's line of hearing lest he get pummeled to death. He heard from their team captain that Kaede and Hanamichi have had an even worse history back in highschool. Seeing them bicker right now was not even half of what they've done back then.

He grinned. Shrugging, he held up his hands so he can rest his head on them. "Oh well. At least the team won't be so boring anymore."

End of chapter 2

A/N:
Here's chapter 2! I think it's shorter than the first chapter, please excuse me. I'm supposed to suffer from a frustrating flu right now, but what the hell. Beds make me feel worse, my compie is my real cure ^_^ Thank you to those who reviewed! Please read the Author's Notes that I will be posting up as a chapter, it will contain the translations and replies to the reviewers. I think I read before that we shouldn't post them as individual chapters, but who can blame me? My notes are quite long. Don't tell on me now, okay? ^_~ I'll erase it eventually anyway, so to those who are asking for the translations, be sure to read those notes before chapter 3 or 4 gets uploaded. I'll be deleting it by chapter 4 I think. Thanks for reading, comments and reviews will be greatly appreciated.

I noticed that I am basing Alex's personality on Sendoh-kun ^_^' I don't know how that happened, but I guess I can leave that be. I still can't decide if I still like Sendoh-kun though, he still makes Rukawa-sama looks awfully bad! *throws a fit* Oh well, at least he's nice.

Oh, and "iyada" means "no". It's something Rukawa-sama usually says to Mr. Anzai whenever the coach asks him to work with Sakuragi-kun ^_^' He's so cute when he says that word! *hearts popping out* Makes him sound so stubborn, ne? =^.^= And "demo" means "but". Did I miss anything?

- Cherrie (blackcape@edsamail.com.ph)