Chapter 14

"He doesn't remember?"

Two grown up boys, walking hand in hand, along the path of a park where lots of couples frequent. Youhei, who was blushing hard, was trying all ways to wrench his hand away from his lover's tight grip.

"Akira can we go home? People are looking at us! We might just get beaten up 'cause we're…" He trailed off at the word that he does not want to hear.

Sendoh stopped walking and sat down in a bench of a more remote part of the park.

"Here, not much people and it's dark, one can even mistook you as my girl." He smirked and planted a kiss on Youhei's cheek. Youhei who in turn blush so hard that as if someone had just gave two punches on his face.

"Aki… should we tell him? We couldn't let him go on like that… if the police ask him about what happen what will he tell them? That he's in a accident while the hospital says he's raped…?"

"You-kun… you were the one who doesn't want to tell him in the first place."

He continued. "Why doesn't he remember?"

"I don't know. Maybe it's because of the shock that they…"

"Maybe… You-kun, should we tell the bb team? Or Rukawa?"

"I'm not sure… Rukawa… God my head hurts…"

Youhei leaned into the open arms and closed his eyes, snuggling into the crook of Sendoh's neck.

"Akira, maybe… maybe we should tell the police the truth and that Hanamichi can't remember and we don't want him to suffer in this horrendous memory. Nobody wants to… and Hanamichi will remained as he is, the after accident boy…"

"Right… maybe we'll do that… But right now, let's just relax."

He brushed away the locks that fell without the gel he is normally using and kiss his forehead.

--

Two days later early in the morning in school, a raven-haired guy is seen holding the waist of a brown-haired girl. Rukawa took out a pen from Haruko's bag. He crossed out the picture he and Hanamichi had posed for and wrote something: 'Haruko and Rukawa.' The whole day people including the teachers are talking.

The day at practice, Youhei showed up again. He stood by the door and watch Haruko watch Rukawa play, saw Rukawa smiled when Haruko wiped his sweat with a towel that she gave to him and opening the bottle and holds it for him while he sucked on the straw.

Youhei snorted. [Since when did he used straws anyway.]

The team had noticed that Youhei and the rest of the Sakuragi Gundam was also there.

After practice, the Sakuragi Gundam was standing by the side of the door at the locker room.

Youhei walked towards Rukawa and pulled him out to the corridor. He took a deep breath and spoke calmly.

"I don't suppose you know what had happen to Hanamichi had you?"

Rukawa lowered his head, hiding his emotions. "No."

Youhei heard a tint of worry and he began. "He's in the hospital."

Rukawa fidgeted and looked at him boringly. "And what has it got to do with me? People getting into a hospital is not a big deal."

"Rukawa, you act like you don't care but I know you do."

--

Haruko hid behind a wall to listen. She peeped and saw Youhei holding back tears in his eyes while he went on.

--

"Everyone cares about Hanamichi. Although they don't know what happened to him, they had been asking me where he is and how he is for the past two days. I don't even know how to answer them. I'm only opening this privilege to you and not anyone else. I don't want to ruin his future…" He ends the sentence in a sad tone. "Though part of it had already been…"

"What happen to Hana is none of my business."

He started to walk away but Youhei held on to his arms and turned around. He pulled him down and kissed him on the lips. Rukawa's eyes widen at the touch of it. [What the…?] After both of them separated, Rukawa was pulled into a classroom nearby.

--

Haruko cried and both of them was shocked this side of Youhei, they proceed to peep into the classroom.

--

Rukawa sat down on the teacher's table while waiting for Youhei to open his mouth. "What do you want?"

"Why Rukawa? You don't want Haruko to see you kissing another guy?

Rukawa was getting impatient. "Just what do you want with me Mito Youhei?"

"Don't be misunderstood, I'm… just returning the kiss back to you."

Rukawa gave him an unusual glare. It was the glare that he usually gave people yet it seemed different somehow. It was like an I-am-not-interested-in-you glare.

"Don't look at me like that. I already have my own. I shall ask you again. Think Rukawa think. You said Hana and not Hanamichi, or Sakuragi or do'ahou. You still care for him don't you? If you care and still love him, I will tell you what happen to him. Do you care for Hanamichi?"

"…"

"Do you?"

"…"

"Do you still love him? Do you want him to come back to you? Or rather, you go back to him?"

There was a long pause in between while Rukawa clenched his fist as he tried to control his tears. Finally he said, releasing all the pain that had been hiding within him. "Yes I still love him."

--

"Oh god… I knew it. He couldn't have loved me. If he can fall in love he couldn't have gotten over the breakup so soon."

"It's ok Haruko, you always have your friends and your family. Look at Hanamichi, he doesn't have a family, his mother and father isn't with him anymore…"

"They weren't? But I thought… he always seemed so happy… But Rukawa he…"

"Let's go. He wouldn't be happy to find us here eavesdropping would he?"

Ayako put her hands on Haruko's shoulder for comfort and walked off.

--

"But what about Haruko?"

"Surprising for you to care for her… Well, I guess that's it then, I'll not be disturbing you again. Goodbye Rukawa."

Youhei patted on his shoulders and walked off, leaving Rukawa frowning and dropping a tear at the same time.

--

By the time a sobbing Haruko returned to the locker room, most of them had already gotten ready to go. Akagi was shocked to see Haruko.

"Haruko?"

She fell into his older brother's arms. "Rukawa he… he still love him… he has not…"

"Gotten over Sakuragi." Ayako continued.

Ryota handed Ayako the towel. "But I thought they had broken up?"

Ayako answered as she handed Haruko the towel. "Yes they had. But he still loves Hanamichi. And… something had happened to him. I supposed it's serious."

Kogure held Mitsui's hand in his own and lean into him for comfort. "Where is Rukawa then?"

"He's in the classroom. 1-9."

"I'll go find him."

Mitsui held him back. "But what if you got beaten up? I don't want you to be bruised. Just let him be. Maybe he still has some sense in him. Even if he doesn't, then let him be."

"Well then I'll go say something to put more into his brain. He-they can't go on like this."

And with that he pulled away from Mitsui who followed, and went to find Rukawa. When he was about to opened the door of the classroom, it opened and Rukawa ran out to find Youhei. Mitsui pulled him back before he could went after Youhei.

"Hey! Rukawa, I don't know what's the problem between you and Hanamichi but aren't you 'a little' irresponsible? By dumping him and getting a girlfriend whom you obviously does not love?"

Rukawa stared at him and tried to shake his hands off but they remain intact.

"You are not going anywhere Rukawa until you've explain all of the things to us." Mitsui nodded his head to the back where the team is waiting.

--

Youhei walked alone in the coldest winter he'd ever been through thinking about Hanamichi. Before he knew it a speeding car passed by and snow covered them from head to toe yet again. The car skidded to a halt and reverses back to stop beside him.

Youhei who was pulled into the car stopped Sendoh from driving away. "Akira! What are you doing? Can't you just stop splashing snow on me?"

Sendoh's eyes travelled from head to toe on Youhei who had just became a snowman shivering on the path. He pulled out a coat from the back seat and put it gently on Youhei.

Sendoh chuckled and hugged him.

"Sorry… um… Hanamichi is missing again."

"Oh dear…"

The car sped away in the night to go on a search of their beloved.

--

In the locker room, the team stood there waiting for a impatient-to-go-yet-not-willing-to-explain Rukawa. Finally, Akagi who can't stand the silence spoke up.

"What about Haruko?"

"What?"

Ryota was next.

"Are you just going leave her like that? After she had put in for you? Even knowing that you don't love her? Everyone sees that you don't love her. What are you going to do about it?"

"I…"

"It's ok Kaede… uh… Rukawa. C-can I still call you that? Can I?"

"But… I… you don't blame me?"

"Of course not!" She gave a cheerful smile despite the obvious redness of her eyes. She handed him his coat and help him wore it. "You love Hanamichi and he loves you. Both of you should be happy together."

"I'm sorry… yes."

"Yes what?"

"You can still call me Kaede." He gave her a hug and smiled. He then turned to the team. "I…"

Kogure hugged him and whispered into his ears. "Go and find him. Don't come back to us if you can't find him all right?"

"But…"

"No buts, all of us had a talk when you were gone negotiating with Youhei. You have to find you loved one back. Get him back in school and back in the team. Let him be happy again. And… don't let us down."

He whispered back. "Yes I will. But you'll have to let me go now or Mitsui-sempai is near enough to kill me with his breath."

Kogure peer to his left and true enough, he saw Mitsui right beside him. Mitsui quickly turned away, blushing at the distance he was with his lover.

Kogure replied. "Being tall, well-built and having better basketball skills does not necessary mean that he would be the naughty one. Well, most of the times he is."

Finally, both of them let go of each other. Mitsui pulled Kogure close to him and wrapped his arm around his waist and the other pulling his shoulder to his chest.

"Hisashi… can't you stop worrying for once?"

"No."

"Sigh…"

After Rukawa had finished packing in just a few seconds, he bowed to the team and went off to find Youhei.

TBC

Minna-san!!! Do you want the ending to be a Ruhana or SenHanaYou? I'm counting on you guys on the inspiration of the ending. Please tell me! Thank you!