Author's note: This is not RuHaru, for Christ's sake! Hanamichi finally appears on this chapter. This is a fic where Rukawa's inner feelings are portrayed, and Hanamichi's stupidity deleted. Haruko has NOTHING to do with Rukawa (and vice versa), for she is only a tool to show what the characters had to do with each other. (Sorry I did my term paper that's why I'm like this). And another thing, Rukawa doesn't have a bit of admiration towards Haruko, and it shows in this chapter. You will now know why he showed compassion in the earlier chapters.

Rukawa's POV

Italicized paragraphs = flashback

Jekyll and Hyde

Chapter 4: A Vehement Soul

The people I hate; the people I respect.

Somehow they managed to get together in this dim and hot place. Haven't they noticed it? It's too hot and too dusky and it makes you think of stupid things. Fuck fate and its allies who brought all these to me.

Am I the one who should be blamed?

I looked at Miyagi who was already sitting, his eyes dangerously going down to its extent. Kogure's head was cradled in his hands, and I have a slight suspicion that he was already dozing. Who could take this hellish place? Akagi - I doubt it. He's probably in the verge of committing suicide for all these torment. And I was in a desperate fit of getting a bit of sleep.

The people who admired me...

I have nothing to say about them. Let's just say I'm not the Sakuragi kind who will favor a person who admires him. All I wanted is basketball… and basketball… and nothing else.

I secretly glanced at Akagi's way and smirked in my mind.

Who knows what I have been planning? Who knows I am like this?

The pain I felt was…

The door opened suddenly, unveiling a big man with a wispy aura and a head nobody will forget. Fiery red hair filled with the known airiness, which sometimes is interpreted as negative and sharp brown eyes.

Sakuragi Hanamichi…

Though now he was visibly covered with the ardent urge of slaying. And his eyes were red as his hair; his cheeks were wet with tears.

So he took it seriously. Good.

"Nice play, Rukawa!" Ayako exchanged high-fives with me after a rather tedious game with a team from the other district. The score elucidated it all: 78-50. I could spy from the corner of my eyes that they were crying, for they were the number three in Japan.

Losers. If they were number three, we could easily beat the number one.

And with my help, that is.

I proceeded to the showers to freshen myself, but was stopped by a firm tan arm. I turned around and faced that do'aho who naturally exasperate me everytime he shows his face.

Yet this face startled me. He hasn't got the usual sneer, but a serious look, which, in fact, intimidated the half of me. I opposed him with my icy façade.

"Nandato?"

"I have to talk to you. Now," he said, almost mandating.

"Do'aho."

"I have no time for joking around," he said solidly. Since when did he idolize Akagi? Then, Sakuragi went to the grounds of the gym. I have no choice but to follow him. I stood behind his vast back, waiting impatiently. Suddenly he spoke.

"Uh…D-Do you have a relationship with her?" Sakuragi's voice split.

"No." Chikuso! Does he have any brains at ALL?

"I want you to be honest. You know, she means a lot to me. I-I…" Sakuragi's eyes blazed into mine. He at length had the guts to look into my imperturbable features. But he was such an idiot! Who could like an airhead?

"She's all yours. Period," with that, I left him staring on the ground, wearing that perplexed emotion.

I don't give anything - even a damn for a person.

Everything in life is just a play.

The pain I felt was…

Probably now I can't admit it to myself as I faced the furious face of Sakuragi.

Before I indulge myself to a heated fight, I drifted into a thought, which just passed, in my mind - like air.

"Kaede, I hope you'll take the responsibility of owning this car," my father uttered with a smile crossing his face. My mother was beside him, expressionless, uncaring.

"I will," I glanced at my 'mother' with malevolence and fixed my expression in my frosty signature.

My father enveloped his arm on the woman's shoulder and smiled radiantly. "This is a gift from your mother and I, for, of course, accepting our marriage openly. I'm proud of you, son." I didn't tell you anything… What do you think of me, an idiot? I gritted my teeth. My father threw the keys to me and left the room with his bitch.

As I gazed at the keys on my lap, I figured out that their marriage might produce something useful for me - again.

Halfway to the door, my father called to me and yelled, "They might move in here next week, son. Your mother, Haruko, and Takenori! Be prepared!"

Surely, I will prepare. I'll give them the worst they've ever experienced in their life. I promise it to the dead body of my true mother.

I promise.

And this pain…

This pain I felt wasn't for that airhead. I looked up, met the eyes of a do'aho.

He was just an idiot. If he just knew the inner voice screaming messages to his head…

Then he'll just know…

…What exactly caused this tragedy.

To be continued…

Oooo… I unconsciously turned this one into a yaoi fic. Review; tell me what you think. Thanks!