Partners In Crime
By CheeKy
Disclaimer: The following Slam Dunk characters belong to Takehiko Inoue. Any unfamiliar names, places or otherwise will naturally be my properties.
Notes: Thanks to all who read and reviewed this fanfic, I'm absolutely flattered and honoured that you've stuck right through to the end. Yes, this is the *last* chapter minna-san. I just hoped you have all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. *throws confetti and jumps for joy*
* * *
Chapter Eight ~ The End?
Sendoh opened his eyes slowly. The room was cast in grey shadows, the only glow coming from the moonlight outside. Looking to his right, Sendoh smiled tenderly as he noticed Rukawa curled up on the sofa next to his bed. Grimacing slightly in pain, he slowly sat up on his elbows to observe his lover better. Rukawa's body rose and fell steadily, a clear sign that the young man was fast asleep. Sendoh smiled to himself; thank goodness the young man was unhurt.
A soft knock interrupted Sendoh's musings. A slight frown marred his features as he watched Rukawa stirred slightly. The gaze relaxed when his lover continued in his slumber. Sendoh looked upwards and grinned as an unknown American face peered in from behind the door. The detective gestured for the man to enter; clearly this must be the Micky Okita that Rukawa was talking about.
The man smiled his thanks before shutting the door quietly behind him. He glanced once at the sleeping Rukawa before pulling up a chair next to the bed. He extended a hand while introducing himself, "Mick Okita, and you must be Akira Sendoh."
Sendoh warmly shook the hand as his grin widened, "That's right. So how are you feeling?"
Okita gave a soft laugh, "I've felt better, but thanks to you, I'm alive, so I guess I shouldn't be complaining too much. In any case, they're just minor injuries; couple of bruises and several broken bones, nothing that won't heal in a week or two. And you?"
Sendoh patted the bandage wrapped around his waist before stating boastfully, "Ha! It's going to take more than one measly bullet to get rid of Tokyo's top detective."
Okita grinned in response. After several more minutes of conversation, the American finally stood up before explaining softly, "I'd love to stay and chat but I had better return to my ward before the nurse discovers I'm missing. When Kaede wakes up, just tell him I popped by to say hi."
Sendoh nodded his promise and his gaze turned back to Rukawa while Okita quietly left the room. This time the soft click of the door woke Rukawa up and the young man groggily got to his feet. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he approached the bed and sat down next to the smiling man with a scowl as he accused his lover, "You lied to me."
Sendoh pouted, "Aww, Kae-chan, aren't you the least bit happy to see me? Look, I'm still healthy and well."
Rukawa continued to scowl, "Baka, you should have told me your face was well known to Hamaguchi."
"And have you forbid me from going with you? I don't think so," countered Sendoh as he started raining kisses along the bridge of his young lover's nose.
"But you could have died back there."
"Oh stop thinking such pessimistic thoughts. I'm still alive, aren't I? Besides, you don't look pretty with your face all screwed up like that," remarked Sendoh with a laugh. He then cupped the boy's face tenderly in both hands before meshing their lips together for a passionate kiss.
The room hummed quietly against the sound of laboured breathing and soft moans. Suddenly the door opened unannounced as two men stepped in. Sendoh's eyes opened as he caught the amused looks thrown in his direction. Rather unwillingly, he broke off the kiss as he pushed his young lover back.
"Hey, no need to stop on our account," chuckled Joseph loudly as Chris sniggered in response.
Rukawa's head snapped back as cheeks turned a distinctive shade of pink. He tried to muster a glare but failed miserably; it was hard to stay angry with the men who saved his lover's life. Still blushing, he turned back to Sendoh and his explanations to check on Okita were suddenly cut short as Sendoh abruptly pulled him closer for a deep kiss. Amidst catcalls and whistles, a grinning Sendoh finally released his hold on his young lover. Still red in the face, Rukawa muttered his infamous three-syllable word before exiting the room. As the door clicked shut behind his young lover, Sendoh snorted in mock annoyance, "Do you know that you guys have the worst sense of timing?"
Dropping into the seat previously occupied by Okita, Joseph grinned widely as he patted his friend's arm, "Aww come on Ace, don't be such a sour puss. At least we showed up before Hamaguchi blew your brains out."
Chris couldn't help but guffaw aloud as he leaned against the bed, "Uh, Joseph, I think he was talking about us interrupting his love session with the pretty boy."
Both men high-fived as Sendoh shook his head in defeat, "Alright, you guys have had your fun, so what's the latest update?"
Still grinning widely, Joseph nevertheless complied with Sendoh's request, "Well, we successfully recovered the tape recorder from your shirt pocket, and surprise, surprise, it was still in good condition. With that evidence, we've charged Hamaguchi with one account of first-degree murder, one account of kidnapping and two accounts of attempted murder. He's probably going to get the life sentence. And we've also caught the people smuggler; that bastard didn't even know what hit him when we surrounded his ship."
Sendoh grinned, "Not bad for a day's work, eh?"
Glancing around almost fugitively, Chris suddenly reached from under his jacket and pulled out a bottle of champagne with a triumphant smirk. Sendoh starting laughing aloud, "Hey, have you forgotten that I happen to be lying on a hospital bed?"
Popping the cork, Chris merely grinned in reply as he poured the silver liquid into the glasses provided by Joseph. Passing one into Sendoh's outstretched hands, Joseph proposed a toast, "To Akira Sendoh, for a job well done."
"Hear, hear," grinned Chris as they all took a sip.
Sendoh smiled as he saluted both men with his glass, "To good friends."
They took another sip. Unable to refrain himself, Joseph winked suggestively at Sendoh, "And finally, to a successful relationship."
He swallowed the rest of the champagne as Chris laughingly gave the choking Sendoh a hard whack on the back.
~ * ~
"Do you really have to go back? You know I'm going to miss you so much," whispered Sendoh into his lover's ears as they embraced in front of the boarding gate.
Pulling back, Rukawa smiled lovingly, "I can't just drop everything without giving any prior notice. Besides, I've given you my promise that I'll be back to Japan for good."
"But that's not till another two years or more!" pointed out Sendoh with a dejected pout.
Rukawa planted a chaste kiss on his lover's cheek before chuckling, "Hey, what's two years when we've already waited for five years?"
"Kae-chan."
His lover silenced his protest with a finger on the lips as he tenderly added, "I promise to call and visit often, okay?"
Sighing, Sendoh released his lover rather unwillingly as the flight attendant repeated the announcement for the final boarding. Taking a step back, Sendoh watched while Rukawa handed his boarding ticket to the flight attendant. As Rukawa entered the gateway, he called out loudly from behind, "Aishiteru, Kaede."
The young man turned back with a soft smile on his face before mouthing clearly in response, "Aishiteru Akira."
The boarding gate slide shut.
~ owari ~
By CheeKy
Disclaimer: The following Slam Dunk characters belong to Takehiko Inoue. Any unfamiliar names, places or otherwise will naturally be my properties.
Notes: Thanks to all who read and reviewed this fanfic, I'm absolutely flattered and honoured that you've stuck right through to the end. Yes, this is the *last* chapter minna-san. I just hoped you have all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. *throws confetti and jumps for joy*
* * *
Chapter Eight ~ The End?
Sendoh opened his eyes slowly. The room was cast in grey shadows, the only glow coming from the moonlight outside. Looking to his right, Sendoh smiled tenderly as he noticed Rukawa curled up on the sofa next to his bed. Grimacing slightly in pain, he slowly sat up on his elbows to observe his lover better. Rukawa's body rose and fell steadily, a clear sign that the young man was fast asleep. Sendoh smiled to himself; thank goodness the young man was unhurt.
A soft knock interrupted Sendoh's musings. A slight frown marred his features as he watched Rukawa stirred slightly. The gaze relaxed when his lover continued in his slumber. Sendoh looked upwards and grinned as an unknown American face peered in from behind the door. The detective gestured for the man to enter; clearly this must be the Micky Okita that Rukawa was talking about.
The man smiled his thanks before shutting the door quietly behind him. He glanced once at the sleeping Rukawa before pulling up a chair next to the bed. He extended a hand while introducing himself, "Mick Okita, and you must be Akira Sendoh."
Sendoh warmly shook the hand as his grin widened, "That's right. So how are you feeling?"
Okita gave a soft laugh, "I've felt better, but thanks to you, I'm alive, so I guess I shouldn't be complaining too much. In any case, they're just minor injuries; couple of bruises and several broken bones, nothing that won't heal in a week or two. And you?"
Sendoh patted the bandage wrapped around his waist before stating boastfully, "Ha! It's going to take more than one measly bullet to get rid of Tokyo's top detective."
Okita grinned in response. After several more minutes of conversation, the American finally stood up before explaining softly, "I'd love to stay and chat but I had better return to my ward before the nurse discovers I'm missing. When Kaede wakes up, just tell him I popped by to say hi."
Sendoh nodded his promise and his gaze turned back to Rukawa while Okita quietly left the room. This time the soft click of the door woke Rukawa up and the young man groggily got to his feet. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he approached the bed and sat down next to the smiling man with a scowl as he accused his lover, "You lied to me."
Sendoh pouted, "Aww, Kae-chan, aren't you the least bit happy to see me? Look, I'm still healthy and well."
Rukawa continued to scowl, "Baka, you should have told me your face was well known to Hamaguchi."
"And have you forbid me from going with you? I don't think so," countered Sendoh as he started raining kisses along the bridge of his young lover's nose.
"But you could have died back there."
"Oh stop thinking such pessimistic thoughts. I'm still alive, aren't I? Besides, you don't look pretty with your face all screwed up like that," remarked Sendoh with a laugh. He then cupped the boy's face tenderly in both hands before meshing their lips together for a passionate kiss.
The room hummed quietly against the sound of laboured breathing and soft moans. Suddenly the door opened unannounced as two men stepped in. Sendoh's eyes opened as he caught the amused looks thrown in his direction. Rather unwillingly, he broke off the kiss as he pushed his young lover back.
"Hey, no need to stop on our account," chuckled Joseph loudly as Chris sniggered in response.
Rukawa's head snapped back as cheeks turned a distinctive shade of pink. He tried to muster a glare but failed miserably; it was hard to stay angry with the men who saved his lover's life. Still blushing, he turned back to Sendoh and his explanations to check on Okita were suddenly cut short as Sendoh abruptly pulled him closer for a deep kiss. Amidst catcalls and whistles, a grinning Sendoh finally released his hold on his young lover. Still red in the face, Rukawa muttered his infamous three-syllable word before exiting the room. As the door clicked shut behind his young lover, Sendoh snorted in mock annoyance, "Do you know that you guys have the worst sense of timing?"
Dropping into the seat previously occupied by Okita, Joseph grinned widely as he patted his friend's arm, "Aww come on Ace, don't be such a sour puss. At least we showed up before Hamaguchi blew your brains out."
Chris couldn't help but guffaw aloud as he leaned against the bed, "Uh, Joseph, I think he was talking about us interrupting his love session with the pretty boy."
Both men high-fived as Sendoh shook his head in defeat, "Alright, you guys have had your fun, so what's the latest update?"
Still grinning widely, Joseph nevertheless complied with Sendoh's request, "Well, we successfully recovered the tape recorder from your shirt pocket, and surprise, surprise, it was still in good condition. With that evidence, we've charged Hamaguchi with one account of first-degree murder, one account of kidnapping and two accounts of attempted murder. He's probably going to get the life sentence. And we've also caught the people smuggler; that bastard didn't even know what hit him when we surrounded his ship."
Sendoh grinned, "Not bad for a day's work, eh?"
Glancing around almost fugitively, Chris suddenly reached from under his jacket and pulled out a bottle of champagne with a triumphant smirk. Sendoh starting laughing aloud, "Hey, have you forgotten that I happen to be lying on a hospital bed?"
Popping the cork, Chris merely grinned in reply as he poured the silver liquid into the glasses provided by Joseph. Passing one into Sendoh's outstretched hands, Joseph proposed a toast, "To Akira Sendoh, for a job well done."
"Hear, hear," grinned Chris as they all took a sip.
Sendoh smiled as he saluted both men with his glass, "To good friends."
They took another sip. Unable to refrain himself, Joseph winked suggestively at Sendoh, "And finally, to a successful relationship."
He swallowed the rest of the champagne as Chris laughingly gave the choking Sendoh a hard whack on the back.
~ * ~
"Do you really have to go back? You know I'm going to miss you so much," whispered Sendoh into his lover's ears as they embraced in front of the boarding gate.
Pulling back, Rukawa smiled lovingly, "I can't just drop everything without giving any prior notice. Besides, I've given you my promise that I'll be back to Japan for good."
"But that's not till another two years or more!" pointed out Sendoh with a dejected pout.
Rukawa planted a chaste kiss on his lover's cheek before chuckling, "Hey, what's two years when we've already waited for five years?"
"Kae-chan."
His lover silenced his protest with a finger on the lips as he tenderly added, "I promise to call and visit often, okay?"
Sighing, Sendoh released his lover rather unwillingly as the flight attendant repeated the announcement for the final boarding. Taking a step back, Sendoh watched while Rukawa handed his boarding ticket to the flight attendant. As Rukawa entered the gateway, he called out loudly from behind, "Aishiteru, Kaede."
The young man turned back with a soft smile on his face before mouthing clearly in response, "Aishiteru Akira."
The boarding gate slide shut.
~ owari ~