"..." spoken
'...' thought
AGAIN
By: kawaii caeli-chan ^___^.
*DING!* *DONG!* *DING!* *DONG!*
And the air was filled with the loud shouts of excited kids that were running out of the building.
He smiled as he watched the happy faces of the elementary school kids that scattered in the school premises through his dark glasses. Some of them sat down under the trees and chatted. Some ran to the playground and occupied themselves with their childish games. And some immediately went out of the school gate and went home.
"Kids! Slow down, you might get hurt!" He heard a familiar feminine voice shout to the ecstatic children.
He smiled, then adjusted his cap, and walked up to the woman.
"Yo! Haruko-san, ohisashiburi da."
The young woman looked up and regarded the stranger with confusion. "Um, sorry, do I know you?"
He smiled as he took off his glasses. "Of course you do!"
Honey-brown eyes met dark-brown and soon enough Haruko threw herself on the stranger eyes damp with tears of happiness.
"Hanamichi!" She said pulling away from Hanamichi. "Oh my God!" She continued, tears flowing down her very happy face. "Oh, my God! How have you been?!"
Hanamichi laughed at his friend's expression. "Great. You?"
"Oh God!" Haruko couldn't get over her surprise at the sight of her friend. "I'm... I... Oh my... It's been a long time..."
"Indeed it is..."
"Oh, Hana-kun! We missed you so much!"
"NAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" He laughed again. "I know..." Then he struck his good old tensai pose. "Who wouldn't miss the Tensai?"
Haruko laughed at her friend's expression and took Hanamichi's arm. "Let's sit down. We have a lot of things to talk about..."
They walked towards an empty bench and sat down.
"First of all, when did you come back?" Haruko started when they were finally seated.
Hanamichi turned towards his friend and smiled. "Just yesterday."
"And where are you staying?"
"Youhei's house. Privacy."
"Why?"
"I didn't want some people to know that I'm here."
"Sou ka..." Haruko nodded understandingly. "It will cause an uproar when they know that the famous Rebound King of the National Team came back to Kanagawa."
Hanamichi nodded, too. "Hai. Besides, I'm here to relax, one thing I can't do in Tokyo with the training and all..."
"It's a good thing your coach allowed you to take the time off."
"I faked a sprain." He laughed again. "And Kiyota helped me with it."
"How?"
"I "accidentally" tripped over his leg during practice."
Haruko laughed. "Oh, that's smart Hana-kun!"
"Yeah."
"I'm sure you miss Kanagawa very much. It's been nine years."
"Ah..." He nodded, looking up in the sky. "Nine years..."
*FLASHBACK*
"What if..." He began to say, "Just what if... we run away?"
The other boy just looked at him with his usual cold expression. "No."
"Why not?!" He shouted. "They can't force you to do something you don't want you to! Let's run away Kaede, let's run away from this stupid place!"
"No."
Then he saw the other boy turn his back and walk away.
And he felt his heart crack into two.
"Matte!"
The other boy stopped walking. Hanamichi ran towards the unmoving figure and grabbed his arm. "Why not?"
"I don't love you."
He didn't know which hurt him more. If it was the cold, expressionless way his lover looked at him or the simple four, unfeeling words that he said. He ignored the tears that were cascading down his cheeks and despite the sobs he managed to blurt out, "But you... you... said..."
"I lied."
He took his blurred gaze from the boy and looked down the floor. The tears continued to flow non-stop, and now they fell on the newly-polished floor.
"Sayonara." He heard the other say. Kaede was walking out of his life and yet he made no effort to look up, much more, even try to stop him. Then he heard footsteps. Then sound of the gym doors sliding open and then close.
Then his unrestrained sobs.
The next day, he took a plane to Tokyo.
*END FLASHBACK*
"...without even saying goodbye..."
Hanamichi snapped out from his trance and looked at his friend. "Huh? I'm sorry... what were you saying?"
Haruko sighed, "I said we were all shocked when you went away without even saying goodbye."
He smiled bitterly. "Gomen ne, for making you all worried. It's just that everything happened so fast that I..." His voice faltered.
"Maa... daijobu... You don't have to explain."
"Arigatou." He inhaled deeply and smiled again. "So how's everybody, Haruko-san?" He asked, lightening up the mood. "What happened to everyone after I went away?"
Haruko beamed and her eyes lit up. "Oh lots Hana-kun! Did you know that onii-chan is now working as a manager in a big advertising agency?"
Hanamichi imagined Akagi wearing a coat-and-tie and carrying a briefcase and laughed.
"Gori? In an advertising agency? I wonder if their clients don't get frightened of him!"
Haruko playfully swatted his shoulders. "Watch your language Sakuragi!" She said jokingly. "That "GORI" is my older brother!"
Hanamichi laughed again and raised his two hands. "Gomen... gomen..."
Haruko glared at him for a moment. "Anyway, Mitsui-senpai and Kogure-senpai now live in the Okinawa. I haven't heard from them for quite a while."
"Sou ka..."
"Miyagi-senpai and Ayako-senpai got married and they now have three kids!"
"Hahaha!!! Way to go Ryocchin! I have to visit those two one of these days."
"Soshite..." Haruko said, looking serious of a sudden.
Hanamichi looked at her and braced himself. He knew whose name was to come next.
"Rukawa-kun...he..."
"Haruko-sensei, do you mind if I sit here for a while?"
They both looked at the direction of the tiny voice and saw a little boy looking up hopefully at Haruko. He was carrying a small school bag in his one hand and holding a book in the other.
Hanamichi had his eyes glued on the boy. He looked about eight years old, he was pale and seemed a little tall for his age. He had raven-black hair and dark-blue, fox-like eyes.
He looked back at Haruko with questioning eyes. Haruko smiled at him.
The boy watched the two adults in bewilderment.
Hanamichi managed to squeak out a small, "Is he..."
Haruko nodded confirming his worst fear. Then she looked at the boy and patted the seat beside her. "Of course you can, Rukawa-kun!"
The boy smiled and Hanamichi let out a gasp. He felt something prick at his throbbing heart.
"Arigatou!" The boy said as he plopped himself down between them.
Haruko smiled again at the redhead, "This is Rukawa-kun's son!" She said, completely missing the pain in his eyes. Then she gasped. "Oh that's right! Did you know that his name is..."
A loud wail came from the far side of the bench. Haruko's head swiftly turned to that direction and saw a group of kids fighting.
"Oh, it's those kids again!" She sighed as she stood up, forgetting what she was trying to say to Hanamichi. "Gomen ne, but can you watch Rukawa-kun for a while? I have to attend to those kids first."
Hanamichi, still in shock, just nodded at her.
"Good! Rukawa-kun, this man is a friend of your father. He'll look out for you for a while okay?"
The boy nodded and smiled at him. All Hanamichi could do was stare.
With that Haruko left them and went to the quarrelling kids.
Hanamichi regarded the boy in shock and at the same time, in awe. Kaede's son was the second last person in this world that he expected, as well as wanted, to see (the last one is Kaede, of course) because looking at him will only trigger all of his painful memories with Kaede, not to mention the main reason why they broke up. But at the same time, he couldn't help but marvel at how much this boy looked like his father. The hair, the eyes, the build, the complexion, even the smile. The smile only he knows because back then Kaede would only smile (and in some occasions, laugh) for him and him alone.
The boy waved his hand in front of the dazed redhead. Oniisan, daijobu?"
Hanamichi blinked twice and nodded his head. "Hai." He managed to say. He smiled to himself. At least this boy didn't inherit his father's stony attitude. On the contrary, he observed that the boy is very friendly and warm. Not to mention he smiled all the time.
"Haruko-sensei said you were my otousan's friend. Where did you meet him?"
Hanamichi was speechless and tears started to form at the back of his eyes. This simple inquiry from the boy triggered a lot of memories from his past. He expected them to return, and he tried to brace himself for the pain, but he never expected it to be this awful, this excruciating.
He was at a loss for words but somehow he managed to blurt out, "In high school."
The boy's eyes lit up. "Oh! So you went to Shohoku High, too?!" He said ecstatically. "That's great! My dad teaches there now as a P.E. teacher and he is also the coach of their basketball team. Last year they were the champion in the Inter High!"
He forced a small smile. "Really?"
"Otousan said that that was also their team's goal when he was in high school." The boy continued. "Unfortunately they weren't able to get to the Inter High because they lost one of their most valuable players."
*FLASHBACK*
Akagi clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. "Yosh! We have only a month to practice for the Inter High! This time we're going to aim for the top place. We're going to be the best high school in the region...and then...the best in JAPAN! Minna, ikuso!"
"HAI!" Everyone shouted in agreement.
Hanamichi struck his tensai pose and laughed. "NYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Shinpai nai minna! This tensai is going to bring us to the top!!! NAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!"
"Do'aho..."
"TEME KITSUNE!!!!! Who the hell are you calling do'aho?!" He glared at Kaede.
"You...do'aho..."
"TEEEMMMMEEEEE RUUUUKKKKAAAAAWWWW-!"
-WHAK!-
He clutched his smoking head and groaned. "Itai! Ayako-san why did you hit me?!"
"Sakuragi Hanamichi you'd better behave yourself!"
"Demo, Kitsune started i-"
-WHAK!-
Hanamichi doubled up in pain and embarrassment. "Nyaaaaaah!"
Akagi carried him toward the sidelines. "Urusai yo bakero!"
"GORI!"
"Do'aho..."
*END FLASHBACK*
"Apparently, he went away without saying goodbye."
He sighed and looked up the clear, blue sky. "Sou ka..."
The boy smiled again. "When I grow up I want to be like my dad. They said he was a great basketball player then. One of the best!"
'Yeah, he was really great.'
*FLASHBACK*
"One-on-one kitsune, or are you just afraid of me..."
Kaede looked at his with challenging blue eyes and smiled. "Do'aho, you're on!"
Then after about and hour of playing they both collapsed on the floor, gasping for air in exhaustion.
"You cheated." Hanamichi managed to say in-between gasps.
"20-10 Do'aho. Don't be a sore loser."
"Yarou..."
"And did I tell you the loser will to be the uke for tonight?"
*END FLASHBACK*
" How about you oniisan? What sport do you play?"
He shook his head and looked back at the boy. "Uh, no... I don't play sports."
"Awww, too bad." The boy said, disappointment evident in his voice. He eyed the redhead carefully and remarked, "You're quite tall though. You would make a good basketball player."
"Height isn't the only basis for your ability in basketball... "
"True. But it is an advantage. My dad's tall, too. But not as tall as you are. Maybe two to three inches shorter. And he's a great player. It's so sad that he quit playing basketball when he married my mother. If he didn't he would have been in the National team by now."
*FLASHBACK*
"My father told me to quit basketball..."
Hanamichi looked at his lover with surprise. "What?! Why?"
"He told me I'll get nothing from basketball. That instead, I should take up Business Administration in college. He said someday I'll inherit our family business. Then he arranged my marriage with his business partner's daughter."
Hanamichi paled. "And what did you say?"
Kaede looked at him in the eyes. "I said no."
"No?"
"I will not give up basketball nor marry that girl..."
*END FLASHBACK*
'So he gave up basketball after getting married, huh...'
"Say oniisan, are you married?"
'I would have been if not for your mother...' Hanamichi shook his head. "No."
"Oh. My parents separated when I was three."
"What?" He blurted out. "They separated?"
The boy nodded his head. "Hai. I don't blame them though. I guess that's better than hearing them quarrel every single day."
"Sou ka..."
"My dad takes care of me very well while my mom now leaves in the US. She has another family."
"So it's just you and your dad now huh?"
"Yeah. I feel sorry for him because they say he left the real person he loves because his father forced him to marry my mother."
*FLASHBACK*
'Why not?! They can't force you to do something you don't want you to! Let's run away Kaede, let's run away from this stupid place!'
'No.'
'Why not?'
'I don't love you.'
'But you... you... said...'
'I lied.'
*END FLASHBACK*
"Really?" 'Did he really love me?'
"Hai."
'Well your father lied...'
"But then again if he didn't marry her, I wouldn't be born right?"
He looked at the boy and smiled. "Yeah."
"So I guess it's okay. Besides, he can marry that person now since he and my mom are already divorced."
"Don't you think it's too late for that now?"
"I don't think so."
"People get tired of waiting... it's possible that that someone has already found another person to love. Don't be too optimistic..."
"And it's possible that that person might still be waiting... Don't be too cynical..."
Hanamichi regarded the boy with growing admiration. "You're smart."
"Nope, I'm just a kid acting like a grown up."
"Well for a kid you certainly know a lot about love."
"I have a good teacher." The boy stared at the kids playing in front of them. "Otousan loved that person very much. But he also loved my grandfather."
*FLASHBACK*
'I don't love you.'
'But you... you... said...'
'I lied.'
*END FLASHBACK*
"I can tell that my father is very unhappy. Although I know he's thankful to have me, I understand that there is a place in his heart that is exclusively for that person. I wish they meet again."
'Me, too...'
"Ah! Sumimasen oniiisan!" The boy jumped up from his seat and scratched his head. "I forgot to tell you my name..."
Hanamichi smiled and adjusted his cap. His red locks are starting to fall on his forehead. "Ah. We've been talking for quite a while now but we still don't know each other's names!"
The boy smiled at him. "Ah."
"Hana? Where are you?"
The voice came from a distance. But it sounded so familiar. He asked himself if he was dreaming.
"Here!" The boy shouted back and waved at someone behind Hanamichi. He gathered his things and brushed the dust off his uniform. "Otousan is here already."
Hanamichi paled. First, the son, now, the father. He didn't think he was ready to face the boy's father yet.
The boy stood straight in front of him. "I'm sorry if all we ever talked about was my father's lovelife..."
Hanamichi smiled weakly and shook his head. "Nah! It's okay. It was interesting anyway..."
The boy adjusted his hold on the book he was carrying and looked up at him. "You see, otousan named me after that person."
"Hana?!" Now the voice was getting louder. Apparently Kaede is nearing their location.
The redhead was distracted by the inevitability that Kaede might see him that he only managed to catch a few words. "Huh? Named after who?"
"Hai, in a moment!" The boy shouted back to his father. Then he turned back to the bewildered redhead and smiled. "My name is Rukawa Hanamichi, oniisan. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu." He said, bowing his head politely.
Hanamichi let out a strangled gasp upon hearing the boy's name. More tears welled up his eyes and threatened to fall.
"Oi do'aho, it's getting late! Let's go!"
"Coming! Nee oniisan, iku?" Rukawa Hanamichi grabbed his wrist and pulled it. "I bet otousan will be glad to see you."
Hanamichi looked at the effort the boy was trying to exert and shook his head. "No thanks..."
The boy looked at him questioningly. "No?"
He ignored the pain in his heart and the nagging voice in his head that said, {Go with him, go with him, go with him} and smiled sadly. "Maybe some other time..."
The boy nodded understandingly and smiled. "What is your name, then? So that I can tell my dad that I met you."
"Sendoh Akira." He managed to say without breaking up.
The boy stared at him for a while as if thinking of something. Then he nodded and smiled again.
"Pleased to meet you, Akira-oniisan! I'll tell dad that I met you." Then the boy waved back as he ran to his father that was waiting in front of the school gate. "Matta ne!" Leaving the redhead behind.
"Where have you been, do'aho I've been looking all over for you!" He heard Kaede say as he and his son went out of the school gate.
Hanamichi stared at the retreating figure of the father and son with blurry eyes. This is the second time he saw Kaede leave and this time, instead of looking down on the floor, he chose watch him walk away. Out of the gate, and perhaps... FINALLY... out of his life. When the two were finally out of his sight, he put on his dark glasses and stood up.
He went out of the school gate and walked towards the opposite direction. The only sounds he could hear were his footsteps...
The location and the circumstance may have changed.
...and his unrestrained sobs.
But still...
He let the only person he ever loved walk out of his life. AGAIN. And perhaps... FOR GOOD.
And just like the last time, that other time nine years ago, he had to leave...
Without saying goodbye.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Author's Note:
So how was it? Reviews please! Too angsty? Too dramatic? Major OOC Hanamichi? Should I stop writing fanfics? Or do you want a sequel? This is supposed to be a one-shot fic but then again... there were so many things left unsaid. So many questions left unanswered. Why did Kaede leave Hana in the first place? What happens to them now? Will Hana really leave w/o saying goodbye? Will Kaede ever know how close he was to seeing the redhead again? What does Rukawa Hanamichi know about Hana? Is this the end? SHOULD it be the end?
So... let me hear it from you guys! Questions, comments, suggestions, violent reactions... And oh, about my "An Indecent Proposal"... well... I'm still thinking of 999 more ways to make Kaede suffer... OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!! Anyways, just watch out for it okay! Ja ne!
kawaii caeli-chan ^___^.
'...' thought
AGAIN
By: kawaii caeli-chan ^___^.
*DING!* *DONG!* *DING!* *DONG!*
And the air was filled with the loud shouts of excited kids that were running out of the building.
He smiled as he watched the happy faces of the elementary school kids that scattered in the school premises through his dark glasses. Some of them sat down under the trees and chatted. Some ran to the playground and occupied themselves with their childish games. And some immediately went out of the school gate and went home.
"Kids! Slow down, you might get hurt!" He heard a familiar feminine voice shout to the ecstatic children.
He smiled, then adjusted his cap, and walked up to the woman.
"Yo! Haruko-san, ohisashiburi da."
The young woman looked up and regarded the stranger with confusion. "Um, sorry, do I know you?"
He smiled as he took off his glasses. "Of course you do!"
Honey-brown eyes met dark-brown and soon enough Haruko threw herself on the stranger eyes damp with tears of happiness.
"Hanamichi!" She said pulling away from Hanamichi. "Oh my God!" She continued, tears flowing down her very happy face. "Oh, my God! How have you been?!"
Hanamichi laughed at his friend's expression. "Great. You?"
"Oh God!" Haruko couldn't get over her surprise at the sight of her friend. "I'm... I... Oh my... It's been a long time..."
"Indeed it is..."
"Oh, Hana-kun! We missed you so much!"
"NAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" He laughed again. "I know..." Then he struck his good old tensai pose. "Who wouldn't miss the Tensai?"
Haruko laughed at her friend's expression and took Hanamichi's arm. "Let's sit down. We have a lot of things to talk about..."
They walked towards an empty bench and sat down.
"First of all, when did you come back?" Haruko started when they were finally seated.
Hanamichi turned towards his friend and smiled. "Just yesterday."
"And where are you staying?"
"Youhei's house. Privacy."
"Why?"
"I didn't want some people to know that I'm here."
"Sou ka..." Haruko nodded understandingly. "It will cause an uproar when they know that the famous Rebound King of the National Team came back to Kanagawa."
Hanamichi nodded, too. "Hai. Besides, I'm here to relax, one thing I can't do in Tokyo with the training and all..."
"It's a good thing your coach allowed you to take the time off."
"I faked a sprain." He laughed again. "And Kiyota helped me with it."
"How?"
"I "accidentally" tripped over his leg during practice."
Haruko laughed. "Oh, that's smart Hana-kun!"
"Yeah."
"I'm sure you miss Kanagawa very much. It's been nine years."
"Ah..." He nodded, looking up in the sky. "Nine years..."
*FLASHBACK*
"What if..." He began to say, "Just what if... we run away?"
The other boy just looked at him with his usual cold expression. "No."
"Why not?!" He shouted. "They can't force you to do something you don't want you to! Let's run away Kaede, let's run away from this stupid place!"
"No."
Then he saw the other boy turn his back and walk away.
And he felt his heart crack into two.
"Matte!"
The other boy stopped walking. Hanamichi ran towards the unmoving figure and grabbed his arm. "Why not?"
"I don't love you."
He didn't know which hurt him more. If it was the cold, expressionless way his lover looked at him or the simple four, unfeeling words that he said. He ignored the tears that were cascading down his cheeks and despite the sobs he managed to blurt out, "But you... you... said..."
"I lied."
He took his blurred gaze from the boy and looked down the floor. The tears continued to flow non-stop, and now they fell on the newly-polished floor.
"Sayonara." He heard the other say. Kaede was walking out of his life and yet he made no effort to look up, much more, even try to stop him. Then he heard footsteps. Then sound of the gym doors sliding open and then close.
Then his unrestrained sobs.
The next day, he took a plane to Tokyo.
*END FLASHBACK*
"...without even saying goodbye..."
Hanamichi snapped out from his trance and looked at his friend. "Huh? I'm sorry... what were you saying?"
Haruko sighed, "I said we were all shocked when you went away without even saying goodbye."
He smiled bitterly. "Gomen ne, for making you all worried. It's just that everything happened so fast that I..." His voice faltered.
"Maa... daijobu... You don't have to explain."
"Arigatou." He inhaled deeply and smiled again. "So how's everybody, Haruko-san?" He asked, lightening up the mood. "What happened to everyone after I went away?"
Haruko beamed and her eyes lit up. "Oh lots Hana-kun! Did you know that onii-chan is now working as a manager in a big advertising agency?"
Hanamichi imagined Akagi wearing a coat-and-tie and carrying a briefcase and laughed.
"Gori? In an advertising agency? I wonder if their clients don't get frightened of him!"
Haruko playfully swatted his shoulders. "Watch your language Sakuragi!" She said jokingly. "That "GORI" is my older brother!"
Hanamichi laughed again and raised his two hands. "Gomen... gomen..."
Haruko glared at him for a moment. "Anyway, Mitsui-senpai and Kogure-senpai now live in the Okinawa. I haven't heard from them for quite a while."
"Sou ka..."
"Miyagi-senpai and Ayako-senpai got married and they now have three kids!"
"Hahaha!!! Way to go Ryocchin! I have to visit those two one of these days."
"Soshite..." Haruko said, looking serious of a sudden.
Hanamichi looked at her and braced himself. He knew whose name was to come next.
"Rukawa-kun...he..."
"Haruko-sensei, do you mind if I sit here for a while?"
They both looked at the direction of the tiny voice and saw a little boy looking up hopefully at Haruko. He was carrying a small school bag in his one hand and holding a book in the other.
Hanamichi had his eyes glued on the boy. He looked about eight years old, he was pale and seemed a little tall for his age. He had raven-black hair and dark-blue, fox-like eyes.
He looked back at Haruko with questioning eyes. Haruko smiled at him.
The boy watched the two adults in bewilderment.
Hanamichi managed to squeak out a small, "Is he..."
Haruko nodded confirming his worst fear. Then she looked at the boy and patted the seat beside her. "Of course you can, Rukawa-kun!"
The boy smiled and Hanamichi let out a gasp. He felt something prick at his throbbing heart.
"Arigatou!" The boy said as he plopped himself down between them.
Haruko smiled again at the redhead, "This is Rukawa-kun's son!" She said, completely missing the pain in his eyes. Then she gasped. "Oh that's right! Did you know that his name is..."
A loud wail came from the far side of the bench. Haruko's head swiftly turned to that direction and saw a group of kids fighting.
"Oh, it's those kids again!" She sighed as she stood up, forgetting what she was trying to say to Hanamichi. "Gomen ne, but can you watch Rukawa-kun for a while? I have to attend to those kids first."
Hanamichi, still in shock, just nodded at her.
"Good! Rukawa-kun, this man is a friend of your father. He'll look out for you for a while okay?"
The boy nodded and smiled at him. All Hanamichi could do was stare.
With that Haruko left them and went to the quarrelling kids.
Hanamichi regarded the boy in shock and at the same time, in awe. Kaede's son was the second last person in this world that he expected, as well as wanted, to see (the last one is Kaede, of course) because looking at him will only trigger all of his painful memories with Kaede, not to mention the main reason why they broke up. But at the same time, he couldn't help but marvel at how much this boy looked like his father. The hair, the eyes, the build, the complexion, even the smile. The smile only he knows because back then Kaede would only smile (and in some occasions, laugh) for him and him alone.
The boy waved his hand in front of the dazed redhead. Oniisan, daijobu?"
Hanamichi blinked twice and nodded his head. "Hai." He managed to say. He smiled to himself. At least this boy didn't inherit his father's stony attitude. On the contrary, he observed that the boy is very friendly and warm. Not to mention he smiled all the time.
"Haruko-sensei said you were my otousan's friend. Where did you meet him?"
Hanamichi was speechless and tears started to form at the back of his eyes. This simple inquiry from the boy triggered a lot of memories from his past. He expected them to return, and he tried to brace himself for the pain, but he never expected it to be this awful, this excruciating.
He was at a loss for words but somehow he managed to blurt out, "In high school."
The boy's eyes lit up. "Oh! So you went to Shohoku High, too?!" He said ecstatically. "That's great! My dad teaches there now as a P.E. teacher and he is also the coach of their basketball team. Last year they were the champion in the Inter High!"
He forced a small smile. "Really?"
"Otousan said that that was also their team's goal when he was in high school." The boy continued. "Unfortunately they weren't able to get to the Inter High because they lost one of their most valuable players."
*FLASHBACK*
Akagi clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. "Yosh! We have only a month to practice for the Inter High! This time we're going to aim for the top place. We're going to be the best high school in the region...and then...the best in JAPAN! Minna, ikuso!"
"HAI!" Everyone shouted in agreement.
Hanamichi struck his tensai pose and laughed. "NYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Shinpai nai minna! This tensai is going to bring us to the top!!! NAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!"
"Do'aho..."
"TEME KITSUNE!!!!! Who the hell are you calling do'aho?!" He glared at Kaede.
"You...do'aho..."
"TEEEMMMMEEEEE RUUUUKKKKAAAAAWWWW-!"
-WHAK!-
He clutched his smoking head and groaned. "Itai! Ayako-san why did you hit me?!"
"Sakuragi Hanamichi you'd better behave yourself!"
"Demo, Kitsune started i-"
-WHAK!-
Hanamichi doubled up in pain and embarrassment. "Nyaaaaaah!"
Akagi carried him toward the sidelines. "Urusai yo bakero!"
"GORI!"
"Do'aho..."
*END FLASHBACK*
"Apparently, he went away without saying goodbye."
He sighed and looked up the clear, blue sky. "Sou ka..."
The boy smiled again. "When I grow up I want to be like my dad. They said he was a great basketball player then. One of the best!"
'Yeah, he was really great.'
*FLASHBACK*
"One-on-one kitsune, or are you just afraid of me..."
Kaede looked at his with challenging blue eyes and smiled. "Do'aho, you're on!"
Then after about and hour of playing they both collapsed on the floor, gasping for air in exhaustion.
"You cheated." Hanamichi managed to say in-between gasps.
"20-10 Do'aho. Don't be a sore loser."
"Yarou..."
"And did I tell you the loser will to be the uke for tonight?"
*END FLASHBACK*
" How about you oniisan? What sport do you play?"
He shook his head and looked back at the boy. "Uh, no... I don't play sports."
"Awww, too bad." The boy said, disappointment evident in his voice. He eyed the redhead carefully and remarked, "You're quite tall though. You would make a good basketball player."
"Height isn't the only basis for your ability in basketball... "
"True. But it is an advantage. My dad's tall, too. But not as tall as you are. Maybe two to three inches shorter. And he's a great player. It's so sad that he quit playing basketball when he married my mother. If he didn't he would have been in the National team by now."
*FLASHBACK*
"My father told me to quit basketball..."
Hanamichi looked at his lover with surprise. "What?! Why?"
"He told me I'll get nothing from basketball. That instead, I should take up Business Administration in college. He said someday I'll inherit our family business. Then he arranged my marriage with his business partner's daughter."
Hanamichi paled. "And what did you say?"
Kaede looked at him in the eyes. "I said no."
"No?"
"I will not give up basketball nor marry that girl..."
*END FLASHBACK*
'So he gave up basketball after getting married, huh...'
"Say oniisan, are you married?"
'I would have been if not for your mother...' Hanamichi shook his head. "No."
"Oh. My parents separated when I was three."
"What?" He blurted out. "They separated?"
The boy nodded his head. "Hai. I don't blame them though. I guess that's better than hearing them quarrel every single day."
"Sou ka..."
"My dad takes care of me very well while my mom now leaves in the US. She has another family."
"So it's just you and your dad now huh?"
"Yeah. I feel sorry for him because they say he left the real person he loves because his father forced him to marry my mother."
*FLASHBACK*
'Why not?! They can't force you to do something you don't want you to! Let's run away Kaede, let's run away from this stupid place!'
'No.'
'Why not?'
'I don't love you.'
'But you... you... said...'
'I lied.'
*END FLASHBACK*
"Really?" 'Did he really love me?'
"Hai."
'Well your father lied...'
"But then again if he didn't marry her, I wouldn't be born right?"
He looked at the boy and smiled. "Yeah."
"So I guess it's okay. Besides, he can marry that person now since he and my mom are already divorced."
"Don't you think it's too late for that now?"
"I don't think so."
"People get tired of waiting... it's possible that that someone has already found another person to love. Don't be too optimistic..."
"And it's possible that that person might still be waiting... Don't be too cynical..."
Hanamichi regarded the boy with growing admiration. "You're smart."
"Nope, I'm just a kid acting like a grown up."
"Well for a kid you certainly know a lot about love."
"I have a good teacher." The boy stared at the kids playing in front of them. "Otousan loved that person very much. But he also loved my grandfather."
*FLASHBACK*
'I don't love you.'
'But you... you... said...'
'I lied.'
*END FLASHBACK*
"I can tell that my father is very unhappy. Although I know he's thankful to have me, I understand that there is a place in his heart that is exclusively for that person. I wish they meet again."
'Me, too...'
"Ah! Sumimasen oniiisan!" The boy jumped up from his seat and scratched his head. "I forgot to tell you my name..."
Hanamichi smiled and adjusted his cap. His red locks are starting to fall on his forehead. "Ah. We've been talking for quite a while now but we still don't know each other's names!"
The boy smiled at him. "Ah."
"Hana? Where are you?"
The voice came from a distance. But it sounded so familiar. He asked himself if he was dreaming.
"Here!" The boy shouted back and waved at someone behind Hanamichi. He gathered his things and brushed the dust off his uniform. "Otousan is here already."
Hanamichi paled. First, the son, now, the father. He didn't think he was ready to face the boy's father yet.
The boy stood straight in front of him. "I'm sorry if all we ever talked about was my father's lovelife..."
Hanamichi smiled weakly and shook his head. "Nah! It's okay. It was interesting anyway..."
The boy adjusted his hold on the book he was carrying and looked up at him. "You see, otousan named me after that person."
"Hana?!" Now the voice was getting louder. Apparently Kaede is nearing their location.
The redhead was distracted by the inevitability that Kaede might see him that he only managed to catch a few words. "Huh? Named after who?"
"Hai, in a moment!" The boy shouted back to his father. Then he turned back to the bewildered redhead and smiled. "My name is Rukawa Hanamichi, oniisan. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu." He said, bowing his head politely.
Hanamichi let out a strangled gasp upon hearing the boy's name. More tears welled up his eyes and threatened to fall.
"Oi do'aho, it's getting late! Let's go!"
"Coming! Nee oniisan, iku?" Rukawa Hanamichi grabbed his wrist and pulled it. "I bet otousan will be glad to see you."
Hanamichi looked at the effort the boy was trying to exert and shook his head. "No thanks..."
The boy looked at him questioningly. "No?"
He ignored the pain in his heart and the nagging voice in his head that said, {Go with him, go with him, go with him} and smiled sadly. "Maybe some other time..."
The boy nodded understandingly and smiled. "What is your name, then? So that I can tell my dad that I met you."
"Sendoh Akira." He managed to say without breaking up.
The boy stared at him for a while as if thinking of something. Then he nodded and smiled again.
"Pleased to meet you, Akira-oniisan! I'll tell dad that I met you." Then the boy waved back as he ran to his father that was waiting in front of the school gate. "Matta ne!" Leaving the redhead behind.
"Where have you been, do'aho I've been looking all over for you!" He heard Kaede say as he and his son went out of the school gate.
Hanamichi stared at the retreating figure of the father and son with blurry eyes. This is the second time he saw Kaede leave and this time, instead of looking down on the floor, he chose watch him walk away. Out of the gate, and perhaps... FINALLY... out of his life. When the two were finally out of his sight, he put on his dark glasses and stood up.
He went out of the school gate and walked towards the opposite direction. The only sounds he could hear were his footsteps...
The location and the circumstance may have changed.
...and his unrestrained sobs.
But still...
He let the only person he ever loved walk out of his life. AGAIN. And perhaps... FOR GOOD.
And just like the last time, that other time nine years ago, he had to leave...
Without saying goodbye.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Author's Note:
So how was it? Reviews please! Too angsty? Too dramatic? Major OOC Hanamichi? Should I stop writing fanfics? Or do you want a sequel? This is supposed to be a one-shot fic but then again... there were so many things left unsaid. So many questions left unanswered. Why did Kaede leave Hana in the first place? What happens to them now? Will Hana really leave w/o saying goodbye? Will Kaede ever know how close he was to seeing the redhead again? What does Rukawa Hanamichi know about Hana? Is this the end? SHOULD it be the end?
So... let me hear it from you guys! Questions, comments, suggestions, violent reactions... And oh, about my "An Indecent Proposal"... well... I'm still thinking of 999 more ways to make Kaede suffer... OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!! Anyways, just watch out for it okay! Ja ne!
kawaii caeli-chan ^___^.