Chapter 12

I looked at the time annoyed, 'He's late. Very late even by his standards. Where the heck is he?'

I shot the ball and it hit the rim but went in, 'Hm, I'm slightly off.'

"Rukawa."

'Not Sendoh,' I decided it was missing that overly cheerfulness, I turned to see this preppy looking guy with extremely neatly parted hair.

I went to pick up the ball ignoring whoever he was.

"I'm Koshino Hiroaki. I came to tell you Sendoh can't come."

'He can't come? Why? Why does this guy's name sounds so familiar? Koshino…Hiroaki… Oh, Sendoh's team mate/friend. He's on Ryonan's basketball team? I can't remember him at all. He must not be a very good player. I remember all the good players.'

"Aren't you going to ask why?" he asked.

I did a lay-up, 'No but I'm sure you'll tell me why.'

"No."

"He's sick."

'He seemed fine two days ago,' I thought.

"Don't you care how ill he is?" Koshino asked sounding annoyed.

'Ill enough to prevent him from coming,' I thought and replied, "no."

"He's got a burning fever."

"So," I said.

He took the basketball from me. I swear he looked awfully angry. Very scary. I looked at him and stuck out my hand, "The ball."

"All you care about is basketball isn't it?!" he demanded.

I frowned, 'What's his problem?'

"And Hanamichi," he added.

I glared at him, "Sendoh told you?"

"Akira wouldn't do that. But it's so obvious. I guessed it and he didn't deny it. You speak to that idiot willingly. You quarrel with him," he stated.

"You got no right to call him an idiot," I said dangerously, 'though he is.'

"Maybe you should be more concerned about Sendoh's health rather than if I call that moron an idiot," he said.

This guy was getting on my nerves and then it hit me. 'This guy likes Sendoh. A normal friend or team mate doesn't go and clean up your house for you, get worried because you're sick, or yell at a guy that's almost a head taller than you for no reason.

"Just because you think the world of Sendoh doesn't mean I have to. You're concerned enough for the both of us."

He was silent and then said softly, "Maybe. But it's you he thinks the world of."

I looked at him, "What are you talking about?"

"He loves you. How dense are you? You think those tickets to get into Reds was easy?! Why else would he wake up so early to take the bus then train here to see you? You think he's got nothing better to do on a Saturday?! Now I know why he refuses to hang out on Saturday morning. He wasted all the money he was saving for his camping and fishing trip to buy you breakfast! Then he had to spend the rest of the month eating stale muffins which probably contributed to his illness! God, I think he's still eating that crap. He spends like an hour everyday scrubbing the pots he used to melt your chocolate. He did so much for you and you don't give a damn about him! What have you ever done for him but cause him pain!?!?"

'He did all that for me?' I thought bewildered.

I know I sound like a bastard when I said, "I didn't ask him to do anything."

'Which was true.'

Koshino grabbed my t-shirt and he looked like he was about to burst. I was ready to defend myself. But then he took a deep breath and let go of me, "If you don't like him, tell him. Don't waste his time."

'Right, so you can go comfort him, hold him, and put me down? I don't think so,' I thought, 'but since I don't like him I should tell him. Right?'

"Ball," I said.

He threw it at me and actually threatened me, "You better not hurt Akira again."

'Or what?' I wanted to challenge but decided to keep that to myself, he really scared me, 'guess that's the power of love.'

.

I ruffled my hair, 'UGH!! I'm so troubled! If what Koshino said is true which I believe it is what should I do?! I should go talk to Sendoh but…I don't want to. But if I don't I'll never be able to sleep.'

I looked at the time. It was just after 7. I picked up the phone book and found out that he had an unlisted number. I grabbed my jacket, 'Troublesome baka.'

.

I rang his doorbell repeatedly and finally after 5 minutes he opened the door. I hardly recognized him. For one thing his hair was down and he looked…different, less silly and more…well, handsome. Second he looked like crap. I got no clue how someone can look so handsome and like crap at the same time, but he pulled it off.

He looked surprised and then smiled, "Rukawa. Please come in. Why are you here?"

'His voice sounded throatier and sexy,' I thought as I walked in, "To tell you something."

"Would you like something to drink?"

"I'm fine," I said.

"Well, make yourself at home."

I sat across from him on the couch. He looked really tired I noted.

After a long period of me staring at him, he finally said, "Um…you had something to tell me."

"Right," I said, 'this should be easy to say but it wasn't and I asked, "where's Koshino."

Sendoh smiled, "I made him go home. He was acting too motherly and overreacts to everything."

I couldn't help but notice his happy smile and muttered, "I'll bet."

"Huh?"

"Nothing," I said, "did I wake you?"

"Oh, no," he said, "I should wake up and eat the medicine that Kosh brought."

'Kosh?' I frowned, "it's not good to eat on an empty stomach."

"Kosh made a pot of congee so I just need to heat it up," he said clearing his throat.

For some unknown reason I was getting really frustrated, 'Why do I feel this way? I really dislike Koshino. More than I dislike Haruko. Why? Because I like Sendoh more? NO!! It's because I know Haruko doesn't like Hanamichi so I can't hate her. I dislike Koshino because he's…bossy, annoying and he threatened me…and called Hanamichi an idiot.'

"Rukawa are you ok?" Sendoh asked sounding

"Worry about yourself," I said.

"Uh…I'm going to microwave my food," he said.

I shut my eyes, 'Ok, ok. Calm down. You will tell him when he comes back that you don't like him. It's very easy. Just say I don't like you. Not now, not ever.'

He came back with a huge bowl.

"Sendoh."

"Hm?" he said looking at me expectantly.

"I…" I began.

He looked so cute and his gaze so warm and open.

'UGH! I can't do this,' I stood up abruptly, "I got to go."

I took the elevator and sighed, 'That didn't go well at all.'

.

"You missed every ball today kitsune," Hanamichi whispered to me.

"There's something I want to ask you later."

"What?"

"Later," I said, "when they're all gone."

.

I felt a kick to my ribs and instinctively I swung my fist but it contacted air.

"Get up kitsune."

I rubbed my eyes, "Are they all gone?"

"Yeah. Does it have to do with your boyfriend?" he asked with a grin, "is that why you're playing so horrible?"

"Che, my horrible playing is better than your best playing."

"Nani?!" he said.

"But yes. It does kind of have to do with a guy. He's not my boyfriend. I'm not sure if I like him. I need to kiss you."

"NANI?!?!" he exclaimed, "NO!"

I expected as much but I need to prove it's Hanamichi I like, "If you'd do it I'll go tell Haruko I don't like her and never will and she should consider you. Or maybe I can just tell her and you can be there to comfort her. A girl is most vulnerable when she's sad."

Hanamichi looked tempted.

So I decided to continue, "And also for the next game when I get the ball I'll pass it to you so you can do your famous dunk."

I added to myself, 'Of course I'll probably limit it to once or twice.'

"Fine. But you got to tell Haruko-chan you don't like her."

I nodded, "Of course."

He stood still and shut his eyes like the most repulsive thing is going to happen and he can't stop it, 'Geez, does he have to look like so? Like he's anticipating something worst than death. It's not like I'm going to torture him.'

I kissed him tentatively and when he didn't object I kissed him with all the passion I could muster.

I pulled away breathless with Hanamichi staring at me, "Rukawa, you…that…um…"

I wasn't listening though, 'Oh! My! Goodness!'

End of Chapter 12