sLL: Makoto is supposed to look like a guy… and since guys with feminine features are called bishonen, that's what Makoto is I guess ^_^ I tried sketching her out and she looks somewhat like Fujima xx;;

Hikaru Itsuko and C.Q: Maa… Sendoh's not hentai.. he's just straightforward.  ^^; maybe a bit too straightforward…

Kimeno-pebols: Agreed. Anger is a very strong drive ^^-

Hagane: Sendoh won't always lose… go read my other fic haha ^^ But it's a pity I had my eyes set on RuHana first ^^-

Notes: A bit more about Makoto is revealed… Rukawa might be OOC here but my impression of him is that he isn't that cold and emotionless. People have a right to be quiet when they want to ^^;  If you do notice, Rukawa HAS plenty of emotions ^^-

Cupid

Chapter 11: Recognition

A lone figure was seen sitting, legs outstretched, holding a basketball. The faint moonlight shone at the side of his face, emphasizing the resigned and frustrated look on his face. Rukawa gritted his teeth in memory of the one-on-one game not too long ago. Sendoh had won. Again. After the game, Sendoh had told him that he was getting better, but not good enough. He swore that Sendoh was mocking at him.

Rukawa punched the ground in frustration. He was always behind Sendoh. In basketball and... with Hanamichi. He thought back on the scene that he and Makoto witnessed in the afternoon. It only made him even more frustrated. He did not dare tell Hanamichi his feelings, much less go forward and kiss him. Although Makoto had told him that Hanamichi did not hate him, or may even feel the same way, he could not shake off the feeling that Hanamichi would most probably reject him. After all, the guy had hated him for about half a year now, there was no reason why Hanamichi would change his mind about him. But, Rukawa had to admit, that without Hanamichi being interested in Haruko, they were on much better terms than before. So there was an improvement. But with Sendoh being so straightforward, he had to move much faster than he thought.

But the fear did not leave him. The fear of receiving the heart-breaking feeling he saw in Makoto's eyes when she was 14, when her parents left her for America and when she experienced her first heartbreak. He did not know how to comfort her, and in all 9 years that he had known her, it was the first time she was crying. Softly, not like other girls who cried over small matters, no doubt, but the strong-willed girl who had managed to read him like a sheet of paper was crying her heart out because the most important people in her life had left her without a word. He still could not forgive the bastard who had played with Makoto's feelings. But as always, Makoto was strong. After the day she cried her heart out, she did not care about the other schoolmates' taunts about being a fool trying to win the heart of someone as good-looking as her crush or boys joking that she was actually a gay boy. She remained cheerful as always, and stood up for her own rights. Makoto was just like a sister, and he, the protective brother, although he had very little chance to protect her. In fact, it was her that got him interested in basketball when they were five, when he had first come into the neighbourhood. Makoto's advice was always good, even when she was the manager of Tomigaoka's basketball team. Makoto's advice...

" Hana is so oblivious to things that you have to tell him straight in the face or show him what to do before he gets it," that was what Makoto had said before, when she was telling him about one of their one-on-one sessions.

" Show him what I want..." Rukawa whispered to himself, a determined gleam in his eyes.

********************************************

There wasn't really much to do that night. Somehow, the usual customers were not there. Makoto tried to stifle a yawn as she cleaned the bar for the umpteenth time, and the piece of cloth she was using was still clean. It was still early, but the usual crowd wasn't there. Then, her partner, Toru, stepped to her and whispered, " Do you think those two guys over there scared them off? Oops! The boss's looking." With that, he walked away, shaking up more drinks for a group at the table opposite. Makoto looked in the direction Toru had pointed, leading to the end of the bar. A tall, redhead was looking around nervously, while a shorter guy attempted to drag him towards Makoto.

"Cmon, Hanamichi! Noone's gonna recognise you! Who do you think you are?"

"Hey! The tensai's famous, ok!"

"You want to look for Mak-chan and here she is! Go on and tell her your problems!"

"But...but..." At the mention of problems, Hanamichi's face flamed up when he recalled what he wanted to consult Makoto about. Makoto gave a smirk. Trust Hanamichi to look so innocent in a place like this when he looked as if it were the kind of place for him. She approached them, shaker in hand, still mixing a drink.

"Konbanwa, Hana-kun, Youhei-kun." Both guys looked up at the sound of a familiar voice greeting them. Youhei gave a sigh of relief, while Hanamichi, face still with a tinge of red, mumbled a greeting.

"You've seen what happened?"

Makoto nodded, smiling, because she was trying to not burst into laughter at the comical scene Hanamichi and Youhei had just presented. Youhei could see that, and grinned in return.

"Presenting the king of simple-mindedness himself. He says that he needs to ask you about something. Love problems, no doubt." Youhei threw a scowling Hanamichi a Look.

Makoto finally gave up, and laughed out loud.

"You guys never seem to fail to crack me up. Care to wait for a while? It's still one more hour to midnight, before I knock off." Makoto had exchanged her time slots in order to catch up with her sleep. Both nodded, though Hanamichi seemed rather uncomfortable with staying in the bar for even a minute longer. Makoto gave the drink she was mixing a final shake and poured its contents into two glasses.

"Try this in the meantime, will you?"

Youhei stared at the clear, glistening liquid with a tinge of blood red and a layer of ice blue on top of the red.  It looked beautiful. Makoto dropped a straw into the mixture, and soft ripples broke the mirror-like surface. Youhei looked up at Makoto questioningly.

" New invention. Try it, and give me feedback. I'm not sure how it tastes like, but I'm pretty sure you won't die from it. And...not to worry. There's only a little of alcohol anyway. I don't like the thought of dragging two dead drunk guys off the streets and out of trouble either."

Youhei laughed at her reply.

"I thought you would have enough experience getting Hanamichi out of trouble."

Makoto just shrugged.

"See you in an hour's time."

***************************************

Youhei waved goodbye to the two others. 'Mak-chan can handle this. I don't think I want to listen too much either ^^;'

"Well?" Makoto asked, her back facing Hanamichi, since he seemed so embarrassed.

"Huh?" Hanamichi was still deep in thought, and was suddenly brought back to reality.

"What did you want to discuss about? This afternoon?" Makoto prompted. Hanamichi's blushed furiously at her comment.

"Teme! You saw and...and you...didn't...didn't do anything about it!?"

"I didn't want to embarrass you, Hana-kun. Anyway, I had to hold Kaede back."

"......NANI!? THE KITSUNE WAS THERE!!!???" Hanamichi felt like evaporating into thin air. If the baka kitsune had seen, he was going to be totally humiliated. What was Rukawa going to think if he had actually known who he was thinking of during that kiss? He was confused at his own feelings. Sure, he was at better terms with the kitsune, but every time his eyes came into contact with Rukawa's, he had the urge to avert his gaze. It had not been like that before. The kitsune and him practically had glaring matches with each other before sparking off the fights. And, of ALL things, why was he thinking of Rukawa when Sendoh was kissing him?? When he had run off, he practically crashed his head into a tree, in an attempt to clear his foggy thoughts. Apparently, he did it with a little too much strength and ended up lying on the grass staring blankly into the sky for about two hours.

And now, he was staring at the same tree, save for a massive hole in the middle of the trunk, and again, trying to clear his thoughts. Makoto watched observantly in silence, before deciding to help Hanamichi with his confusing thoughts.

"So....you liked it?"

"Huh? Of course not! Sendoh's my number-one rival, remember?"

"Aa...then why didn't you react immediately when he kissed you?"

"I.....I....I was thinking of Haruko-chan!!"

Makoto gave him a skeptical look.

"Hana...I can't help you if you don't tell me the truth. The absolute truth."

"............Kitsune." Hanamichi whispered, his face still like a tomato. Makoto grinned triumphantly. But she was puzzled at how fast Hanamichi gave in. She was even more surprised when Hanamichi started blabbing whatever was on his mind after that. After around five minutes of incoherent talking, Hanamichi stopped, his head looking down. Makoto looked more carefully, tilting Hanamichi's head up gently. And sweatdropped. She made a small mental note at the back of her mind. Never give Hanamichi any alcohol. He was sleeping like a baby, and he looked so cute that Makoto was sure that if not for her strong willpower, she would have given him a kiss there and then. She swung Hanamichi's arm over her shoulder and started to make her way to Hanamichi's house, which was, fortunately, only a small distance away from the park.

'Oh well, 80kg or more wouldn't do much harm. Or maybe just a little sore in the back and arm muscles,"

She grimaced as she made her way to Hanamichi's house.

************************************

Hanamichi was in the locker room. He put on his shirt and fiddled around with his belongings. He was able to go back early today, since Makoto had left early with an excuse. Something about having to see the doctor about sore muscles. He could not remember what he had told Makoto, but apparently, she had not told a soul about it yet. He hoped deep down, that he did not say anything that he should not, and swore never to take anything that included alcohol. Makoto had made a fine drink, but it seemed like he was seriously affected by the 'little alcohol' that she had added. Fortunately, for Hanamichi, he did not get that drunk, and get a hangover. After all, it was pretty humiliating to get dead drunk over a little alcohol. He was almost done with packing his things when the door slammed open suddenly.

Rukawa came in, and closed the door. But Hanamichi did not hear the soft click. He just stared in surprise at Rukawa. Rukawa had a strange look on his face. He looked....determined.

"Do'aho, we need to talk."

tbc