A Different Path

Disclaimers: Slam Dunk and all mentioned [Japanese] characters are not mine, they belong to Takehiko Inoue-sama. No money is made while making this fanfic.
Notes: Developing RuHanaRu shounen ai. Less fights now, thankfully. Be tackling Rukawa's side of the story in this chapter. I decided that maybe he does need a little angst after all. Go figure, ne? ^_^

Chapter 6 - Rukawa's Story

The weather was fairly cold as Kaede and Hanamichi walked to class. The air around them was humid enough to warn them of an upcoming shower again, like what had usually been happening the past few days. Various cars have started to clog up the roads and intersection, but neither of the two could hardly care. It's almost as if there was a silent agreement between them that they would always walk together without any mode of transportation but their feet. It wasn't as if the trip to class was any problem to them, for the college wasn't even that far from Mr. Sakuragi's apartment.

Kaede shifted his eyes from the road ahead to take a small peek of his companion. Hanamichi was wearing a pair of casual jeans and a black jacket over a white shirt, with his hair properly gelled and combed neatly. He'd admit that the redhead looked fairly less idiotic, as he would usually describe the other, when given the proper attire and a more decent composure. He might probably say that he looked good. This, coming from somebody who can't help but attract almost every girl's attention from over a mile away, is pretty much a very high compliment.

A week has almost passed after that day when they decided to stop fighting. Miraculously, they were able to pull the agreement through. Whether it was because they were finally given less space to fight in when Hanamichi moved out for a while, he didn't know. But nevertheless, his doubt that his idea would never work out is slowly waning from his head.

Needless to say, he was relieved somewhat by their current condition. And of course, especially the people from the classes where the two of them were luckily bounded to take together. He supposed those certain classes have finally found their peace. Also, their basketball team captain seemed just as relieved. Not that Kaede could blame him. Considering their past fights in class, compared to what they've had during practice, well, let's say the ones during school hours were a blessing.

But what truly surprised Kaede was that having Hanamichi as a friend, if that's what one may call his relationship with him now, is not half as bad as one might think. There's more to being Hanamichi's friend than having the right to tease him with the cruel payment of a friendly headbutt, which was exactly what he thought of once as he watched the guy with his friends back in Shohoku. Hanamichi, though not obvious in his physical appearance, is more understanding than any guy Kaede could think of. Well, maybe not as kind as Mr. Sakuragi, or Mr. Anzai, or his uncle, but one would get the idea.

There was a time but a few days ago when he had to take an oral test for Anatomy because he needed it to make up for his grades. Aside from the very disturbing fact that it was Hanamichi himself who pleaded with Mr. Waters to give Kaede a chance to make up for the class (and considering their past records with the said teacher, he supposed it was twice as hard as the usual pleas a student might put up with a teacher), he was also the one kind enough to make sure that Kaede wouldn't screw up his efforts. He stayed in Kaede's apartment to make sure he studied well, even stopping to ask him questions about the lesson itself just to see if he knew enough. Though Hanamichi was still as quick-tempered and impatient as he is known to be that time, Kaede could see the other boy's true intentions just as clearly.

After that strange encounter with Hanamichi's other side, he could somehow say that he had grown to respect the redhead quite well from then on. But what was completely strange about it was that even if he had always known to despise him back in the past, him looking at Hanamichi in a new light didn't feel half as weird as he might've expected. In fact, the feeling was actually comfortable. It was as if he's had that feeling inside him all along.

He still couldn't believe it though. He took a sideward glance again to look at his companion, and sure enough, Hanamichi being Hanamichi, looked back with an annoyed expression. "What?!" came the impatient, yet expected, answer.

Kaede can merely shake his head. That certain reaction didn't affect him in any way at all. It was as if he had seen and heard it more than enough to make him used to it. It made him feel as if he's had Hanamichi forever. It was strange, but not entirely unwanted.

He had always had the feeling that he was alone. The sudden memory of it made him think of his parents almost immediately. He wondered how they were doing. He did leave them well and healthy, but that was to speak about them individually. He was wondering how they were doing together. That is, if they're still together at all.

The sudden sounds of honking car horns and a loud crash seemed like a terrible omen all of a sudden. When he looked up, he realized that he and Hanamichi have stopped and were now staring wide-eyed at the unexpected car crash but a few meters away from them.

* * * * * * * * * *

Hanamichi looked outside the basketball gym as he watched the rain start to fall. It had grown severely dark because of the lack of sunlight, and they had to turn on the lights of the gym. He watched the misty shower as the raindrops touch the ground one by one, and listened to the chorus of noise they made as they did so. He had always hated the rain. It reminded him too much of his childhood that he couldn't help but letting out a snarl just to keep the memory out of his mind.

"Oi, Hanamichi! Tell us again about that car crash!" came the voice of one his teammates. The car crash that happened just that morning had taken place but a few blocks near the college, and almost everybody by then had heard about it. Honestly, Hanamichi could hardly see what was so interesting. So a bunch of cars got ruined because of a broken traffic light, it wasn't like anybody died of some rare disease anyway. Car crashes happen regularly around the world, what makes this one so special?

He sighed. "I told you, it was nothing. The traffic light got jammed and three cars met up in the intersection. That's it!" he said almost impatiently, and not even caring if his impatience showed.

A mock frown. "You mean nobody got hurt?"

"Nobody got hurt. Now quit being a sadistic ass and get the hell away me."

The young boy laughed. "All right, all right, I can get a hint. You seem to be in a foul mood, Hanamichi. Take care, you might develop smoke off your ears if you continue being like that." The boy laughed again before finally walking away.

Hanamichi sighed again. Well, he suppose he was in a bad mood. He was sure it was because of the weather. Instinctively, his eyes wandered off around the court to look for a certain fox-eyed boy. Though why he's been constantly trying to see where Kaede was every time he remembers to was beyond him.

As if on cue, Kaede came to view a few seconds after. He was running towards the open doors of the gym, using his gym bag to cover himself from the rain. By the time he was inside, he checked to see just how wet his bag had been, then patted himself in places to at least dry himself off.

"Oi, Rukawa! Where've you been?" asked Hanamichi. He was a bit far from the door, so he had to shout his question out a bit.

Whether Kaede heard him or not, Hanamichi wasn't sure. The dark-haired boy seem to be looking at something from outside, but he could've sworn that those eyes were too much in a daze to actually look like they're focusing on something. Maybe he was watching the rain just as he was a while ago. But then again, Kaede looked like he was deep in thought, as if he despised something enough to actually glare at nothing. He supposed it wasn't the rain. Kaede liked the rain, unlike him, as he remembered it.

Just when Hanamichi decided that he needed to repeat his question, Kaede turned his head to look at him. The boy just shook his head, as if to tell him that he had no intention of answering. Well, typical Kaede Rukawa. He wasn't surprised. It was Kaede's almost affectionate way of saying "It's none of your business." If anyone would describe the boy as affectionate that is. But wasn't that his point?

But Hanamichi supposed that he was fine with it. It wasn't like any answer the boy would give him would change the fact that he was in a bad mood anyway. So instead of bugging Kaede about the truth like he'd wont to do, he decided that letting him keep his little secret would be a better way of avoiding another argument with him. So with that in mind, Hanamichi just turned to a teammate who was giving out balls to the players to practice with. He waved a hand to call him, and asked for a basketball so he could practice himself as well.

* * * * * * * * *

For some reason, that car crash was unnerving. It's not the accident itself that disturbed him, it was just that he felt that it was some sort of sign. Or as he had thought of it a while ago, an omen. He was never the superstitious kind, but the current situation back with his parents has always been a constant thought with him after he had set foot in the US.

Kaede's father was a successful businessman who worked in a famous company who manufactured sports equipment and the like. As for his mother, she was a just as successful journalist who works for a prestigious magazine company in Japan. She was also a novelist who already have two books published. They were both almost always busy, and usually out of the house to attend to their work.

As a child, Kaede had always known that the affection between his parents was fading little by little. They fight constantly, and sometimes they were so loud that he could feel their own house shake just because of their voices. Though they never really hurt him, and in fairness they would've been good parents actually, Kaede could still feel the rising tension in their family even as he grew up. He knew that the only reason why they were together still was because of him. They didn't want him to grow up without two parents by his side, they wanted him to be happy as much as possible.

Kaede never doubted that his parents loved him. But still, it didn't help that he still watch them fight it out through the years. It was only one day before he went to highschool did the thought of them separating now that he was old enough come to mind. Of course he didn't like the idea, but given the show that he had watched often in his life, sometimes he'd just think that maybe separation clearly was the only way to get rid of their state towards each other. But even though he knew all of these, he wasn't at all excited with the idea.

That was why he had called home that late afternoon, right after all of his classes were done. He was only able to check back in Japan twice a year, whenever he finds time to go back. And he was not at all happy to say that his parents' relationship is getting worse every time he gets there. They've tried to get along a thousand times that Kaede had stopped counting, but eventually, they'll go back to being the tigers that they seem to always be when they're together.

He didn't get a reply even if he called. He supposed that both his parents were still out. He remembered himself banging the telephone back on its place, cursing once before he turned back to head towards the gym, clutching his bag above him since it has started to rain, just as he had expected.

"Oi, Rukawa! Where've you been?" he heard Hanamichi call. Again, he need not think of it strange for him to be concerned, since he's had more surprises from Hanamichi than he could count. And after all, he had other things in his mind.

Kaede merely shook his head, hinting that he wasn't in the mood to speak. Thankfully, Hanamichi left him alone and made his way towards the others in the middle of the court instead.

Kaede looked out to watch the rain again. Unlike Hanamichi, the rain enchanted him enough to close up his mind from further thoughts, even for only a few seconds. It was as if he slept while he was awake, if that's even possible. If only he could forget about everything and just go on without having to be worried about things he knew would happen anyway, he'd be content. He was afraid to lose something he knew he had to let go, but then again, isn't that what he was supposed to feel?

Without another word, he closed his eyes and turned away. He clutched the handle of his bag tightly, and made his way towards the locker rooms to change.

End of chapter 6

A/N:
Well, it went differently from what I was originally thinking of, but I guess this isn't so bad. This one is shorter than usual, forgive me *bows down*. Thank you to those who reviewed, by the way. Also, I'm sorry if the uploaded chapter 5 wasn't announced. Actually, it was there since last week ^_^' I was trying to delete the translations in this fic and ended up replacing the chapters instead. So FF.net didn't put this fic up as an updated fic. Again, so sorry, I'll try to be more organized in the future ^_^

Finally getting a story on. Now if only I can figure out the ending for this thing...

- Cherrie (blackcape@edsamail.com.ph)