CHAPTER 3: Realization
Rukawa felt as if the whole world crashed down on him. Its not so long ago that he thought Sendoh would be his partner for life, that whatever obstacle fate throws their way they'll overcome, but now, but now Rukawa realized Sendoh just came on to him for fun, that he was just fling material. Sadness and hurt was replaced with hatred and fierce anger. He was shaking with grief but now he was shaking with frustration, he would definitely like to strangle someone to death; specifically Sendoh.
"O-I K-I-T-S-U-N-E!!!! Earth to kitsune!!!" Sakuragi was jumping up and down in front of him and waving his arms in his face; he had totally forgotten the presence of the loud red head. "So what do we do now? Beat the shit out of Sendoh? I know we could raise hell together Rukawa!" Rukawa blinked. No, that would be too easy. I want to see him suffer slowly. "No." "WHAAT? After what he's done to us, we should just leave it as is? No Rukawa, if you don't want to then I'll do it by myself." Sakuragi stomped his feet as if making a stand. "Doaho." I sighed then nodded to the kitchen. "Let's talk about this after dinner, ne?" "Dinner? Oh yeah. I forgot that I was hungry because of." Rukawa tuned Sakuragi out, he didn't want to be reminded so many times that Sendoh got the best of him. Rukawa took meat and vegetables out of the freezer and popped them in the microwave to thaw and then walked out of the room. "Oi! Where are you going?" "Doaho, to get dressed of course." Rukawa was still wearing his practice attire, which was soaked with sweat and left the room mumbling incoherently.
Left alone in the kitchen, Sakuragi was filled with thoughts of his own. This Sendoh matter should be making me tense and hurt, but I just don't care anymore. Hanamichi reflected to himself. He was even more surprised that he got really angry with Sendoh because he saw Rukawa genuinely sad just minutes ago. He had never seen the raven-haired player loose control, he was cool as ice, and that the emotions he shared with him was truly rare. Wait what am I thinking? He is my rival and I should be glad that he is hurt, but. Recalling the stricken face of Rukawa shedding tears was more than he could bear, he started boiling all over again. Damn you to hell Sendoh! He broke out of his reverie when he saw Rukawa re-enter the kitchen he now wore tight fitting black shirt and black boxer shorts that contrasted with his pale complexion. Kawaii!! Sakuragi didn't notice that he was staring open mouthed at the Rukawa. "Doaho, here I think you should change to." Gesturing at his attire, which was covered with dirt because he slept at Rukawa's front steps. "Huh? Oh yeah. thanks." Sakuragi broke his stare and stood up. "Where should I change?" "Second door to the left wing."
So Sakuragi went out to change. A blush was coloring his cheeks and was rapidly matching his equally red hair. I never noticed that Rukawa was handsome. Well, he amended to himself, I knew he was but I didn't want to accept it, he wouldn't have a battalion of adoring girls if he were ugly. He changed quickly and made a dash to return to the kitchen. Rukawa was at the stove cooking. He had donned on an apron, which was covered in smiley faces. Kawaii! He just stood at the door watching Rukawa intently when he suddenly heard snoring noises. Huh? He must have fallen asleep. He reached out to shake Rukawa's shoulder but the rookie just went limp, Sakuragi caught him adeptly. He carried Rukawa to the living room and gently laid him on the couch. He went back to the kitchen to cook.
Rukawa blinked. "Where am I?" He focused on his surroundings. Oh yeah, the living room. "Wait when did I get here?" "I swear I was in the kitchen." "Kuso, I left the burner on!" He made a dash to the kitchen. Funny, there seems nothing to be burning. He thought to himself as he was sniffing the air. Wait something smells. "Hey sleeping beauty just woke up, eh?" He swung around and faced Sakuragi who was wearing a stupid grin. "I hope you don't mind but I cooked the food you took out already coz you fell asleep and all." "Daijobu." Rukawa sat and picked the food with a fork. Looks safe enough. He brought a forkful of mashed potatoes to his mouth. This is quite good. Rukawa thought to himself. "I hope the food is alright." Sakuragi inquired him. "It's fine." "So Kitsune, what is your brilliant plan?" "Huh? What plan?" "Hello! The plan to get even with Sendoh?" Sakuragi sounded exasperated. "You're slow kitsune, you know?" Rukawa snorted. "Hai, Hai. You said that beating Sendoh is out coz it is an easy punishment so you said, and you suggested that it would be better if he should suffer slowly." Oh yeah that plan. Well actually I don't have one, but I will definitely think of one. "I don't have any but we could brainstorm." Sakuragi snorted this time. "Oh so that's why we should eat dinner first, so we'd have the energy to think?" Hanamichi replied sarcastically at him. "In that case you'd need lots of food to help you think!" Rukawa raised his brows as if daring Sakuragi to counter. "NANI?" Sakuragi hollered his face turning red, and then he took several steadying breaths to calm himself. "We shouldn't fight, were in this together, okay?" Hanamichi sounded genuinely sincere so I merely nodded and tried to eat more.
"So what should we do now?"
"We think of something, why don't you start suggesting?" I turned to the taller player.
"Hmmm. How about ignoring him?"
"Iie, too easy, predictable too."
"How about ditching dates?"
"He'll just find somebody new."
"Ahhhh! What do you want it's so hard to think!" Sakuragi sounded frustrated that he was scratching his head furiously.
"How about humialating him in public?" I asked the doaho.
"Hmmm. Not bad, we could make him look mental?"
"Mental eh? Like a nut?"
"UHUH! That's right! But how do we do that?" Sakuragi said aloud. Sakuragi snapped his fingers and looked positively triumphant about something.
"Nani? What is it?" I asked sounding excited.
"We change personalities." Rukawa dropped his jaw, he sounded totally disgusted. I raised my chin at him.
"Are you out of your mind?" I almost yelled at him.
"Are you insulting me?" Sakuragi sounded threatening.
Relax kitsune! Listen to me first okay. So we make dates with Sendoh where we would be seen in public. Then we could ask the team or my gundam to help us pull the stunt that you are me and I am you. We do this a couple more times or until Sendoh is convinced that something is definitely wrong with him." Sakuragi stopped confused at what he is saying, he then look imploringly at Rukawa. "So what do you think?" The super rookie was dead silent. "Oi, Rukawa?" Rukawa then cracked a smile and Hanamichi noted the mad gleam in his eye. "Not bad doaho."
"Rukawa we are not going to pull this off, if you stay hopelessly expressionless!" Sakuragi threw his arms in frustration. He was staying overnight at Rukawa's to practice. "Its not easy coz I'm not stupid!" I yelled at him. Hell! This was more difficult than basketball! I'm beginning to wonder why I ever said yes to this plan.
"Then be stupid!" Sakuragi sounded annoyed already so I decided to take a breather. "Let's rest a moment okay? This doaho business is exhausting!" Rukawa closed his eyes and mustered all his patience and anger to go on with the torture of a practice. With newfound determination, Rukawa bolted upright and said, "Let's continue." "Are you sure?" Sakuragi looked doubtful. "Hai." "Alright so, everybody associates me with my laugh so you gotta laugh like I do, which I do most of the time. You have to laugh long and hard like this. NYAHAHAHAHA!!!" "At the top of your lungs of course!" Sakuragi waved his index finger at me. "Nyahahaha?" "Well, that's a start but now, try to laugh with passion." With passion huh? Well, I only have passion in basketball, Rukawa visualized that he defeated Maki and that he replaced him as the best player in Kanagawa prefecture. Relishing the thought, Rukawa laughed long and hard. "NYAHAHAHAHA!!!" Dead silence.
Sakuragi felt as if he were dreaming. Rukawa was laughing. He was laughing. Never Would Sakuragi have thought that he'd see the cool player smile, much more laugh. He chuckled inwardly to himself; now that you think about it, my laugh is driving me nuts! "Woooow! Rukawa I never knew you were so good!" I praised him. "Tensai Sakuragi, ne?" Rukawa replied. We both cracked up.
"I have a good feeling about this Rukawa, I think we are going to pull this off!" Sakuragi was hopping up and down in his excitement. Rukawa chuckled. "I may be a good actor, but how about you?" Rukawa looked up to me and smiled, again. I turned red instantly. "Oi, doaho you okay?" Rukawa reached over to touch my forehead. My head was spinning, being this close to Rukawa makes me catch my breath. Feeling the heat, I took a couple of steps back. "Hai, daijobu" I mumbled. Regaining composure I said, "Tensai Sakuragi remember, besides" with a flick of his wrist, "you're sleeping all the time anyway!" Rukawa looked annoyed. "Okay so let's practice what you do to be fair" I compromised to Rukawa. But Rukawa never answered back. He was asleep again.
"Done in already huh? Kaede?" Hmmm. Kaede, I like his name. Actually I like everything about you. I reached over and traced the outline of the kitsune's face. He really is handsome. I took Rukawa in my arms, deciding that the couch is not a suitable place for Rukawa to sleep. I looked in on every room to check where Rukawa's room was. At last I found his room, well anyone could assume that this was his room; it was full with basketball paraphernalia. I gently laid the kitsune to bed, and let my touch linger with him a much as possible. Without thinking I kissed him. "Goodnight Kaede."
Sakuragi left Rukawa's residence, he decided to go home. He left Rukawa a note saying he went home.
I need to think. Sakuragi was walking in circles around his house. This exercise is not helping! Sakuragi thought to himself. "What have I done?" He mumbled to himself, recalling how he kissed Rukawa goodnight. But that wasn't bothering him, what was bothering him is that he enjoyed the feel of Rukawa in his arms, the feel of Rukawa's soft lips on his own. AHHH! Kuso, I can't understand it, why am I hyperventilating when Rukawa is near, why am I blushing when he smiles at me? Kuso, kuso, kuso!! He banged his head on the wall to calm down. Wait! I am tensai I can sort this out. He thinks. Oh, I've felt this before; it was when I was in love with Haruko! "It can't be." Sakuragi toppled to the ground as realization struck him. "It can't be." Sakuragi's definitely sure this time. He was in love with Rukawa.
Rukawa felt as if the whole world crashed down on him. Its not so long ago that he thought Sendoh would be his partner for life, that whatever obstacle fate throws their way they'll overcome, but now, but now Rukawa realized Sendoh just came on to him for fun, that he was just fling material. Sadness and hurt was replaced with hatred and fierce anger. He was shaking with grief but now he was shaking with frustration, he would definitely like to strangle someone to death; specifically Sendoh.
"O-I K-I-T-S-U-N-E!!!! Earth to kitsune!!!" Sakuragi was jumping up and down in front of him and waving his arms in his face; he had totally forgotten the presence of the loud red head. "So what do we do now? Beat the shit out of Sendoh? I know we could raise hell together Rukawa!" Rukawa blinked. No, that would be too easy. I want to see him suffer slowly. "No." "WHAAT? After what he's done to us, we should just leave it as is? No Rukawa, if you don't want to then I'll do it by myself." Sakuragi stomped his feet as if making a stand. "Doaho." I sighed then nodded to the kitchen. "Let's talk about this after dinner, ne?" "Dinner? Oh yeah. I forgot that I was hungry because of." Rukawa tuned Sakuragi out, he didn't want to be reminded so many times that Sendoh got the best of him. Rukawa took meat and vegetables out of the freezer and popped them in the microwave to thaw and then walked out of the room. "Oi! Where are you going?" "Doaho, to get dressed of course." Rukawa was still wearing his practice attire, which was soaked with sweat and left the room mumbling incoherently.
Left alone in the kitchen, Sakuragi was filled with thoughts of his own. This Sendoh matter should be making me tense and hurt, but I just don't care anymore. Hanamichi reflected to himself. He was even more surprised that he got really angry with Sendoh because he saw Rukawa genuinely sad just minutes ago. He had never seen the raven-haired player loose control, he was cool as ice, and that the emotions he shared with him was truly rare. Wait what am I thinking? He is my rival and I should be glad that he is hurt, but. Recalling the stricken face of Rukawa shedding tears was more than he could bear, he started boiling all over again. Damn you to hell Sendoh! He broke out of his reverie when he saw Rukawa re-enter the kitchen he now wore tight fitting black shirt and black boxer shorts that contrasted with his pale complexion. Kawaii!! Sakuragi didn't notice that he was staring open mouthed at the Rukawa. "Doaho, here I think you should change to." Gesturing at his attire, which was covered with dirt because he slept at Rukawa's front steps. "Huh? Oh yeah. thanks." Sakuragi broke his stare and stood up. "Where should I change?" "Second door to the left wing."
So Sakuragi went out to change. A blush was coloring his cheeks and was rapidly matching his equally red hair. I never noticed that Rukawa was handsome. Well, he amended to himself, I knew he was but I didn't want to accept it, he wouldn't have a battalion of adoring girls if he were ugly. He changed quickly and made a dash to return to the kitchen. Rukawa was at the stove cooking. He had donned on an apron, which was covered in smiley faces. Kawaii! He just stood at the door watching Rukawa intently when he suddenly heard snoring noises. Huh? He must have fallen asleep. He reached out to shake Rukawa's shoulder but the rookie just went limp, Sakuragi caught him adeptly. He carried Rukawa to the living room and gently laid him on the couch. He went back to the kitchen to cook.
Rukawa blinked. "Where am I?" He focused on his surroundings. Oh yeah, the living room. "Wait when did I get here?" "I swear I was in the kitchen." "Kuso, I left the burner on!" He made a dash to the kitchen. Funny, there seems nothing to be burning. He thought to himself as he was sniffing the air. Wait something smells. "Hey sleeping beauty just woke up, eh?" He swung around and faced Sakuragi who was wearing a stupid grin. "I hope you don't mind but I cooked the food you took out already coz you fell asleep and all." "Daijobu." Rukawa sat and picked the food with a fork. Looks safe enough. He brought a forkful of mashed potatoes to his mouth. This is quite good. Rukawa thought to himself. "I hope the food is alright." Sakuragi inquired him. "It's fine." "So Kitsune, what is your brilliant plan?" "Huh? What plan?" "Hello! The plan to get even with Sendoh?" Sakuragi sounded exasperated. "You're slow kitsune, you know?" Rukawa snorted. "Hai, Hai. You said that beating Sendoh is out coz it is an easy punishment so you said, and you suggested that it would be better if he should suffer slowly." Oh yeah that plan. Well actually I don't have one, but I will definitely think of one. "I don't have any but we could brainstorm." Sakuragi snorted this time. "Oh so that's why we should eat dinner first, so we'd have the energy to think?" Hanamichi replied sarcastically at him. "In that case you'd need lots of food to help you think!" Rukawa raised his brows as if daring Sakuragi to counter. "NANI?" Sakuragi hollered his face turning red, and then he took several steadying breaths to calm himself. "We shouldn't fight, were in this together, okay?" Hanamichi sounded genuinely sincere so I merely nodded and tried to eat more.
"So what should we do now?"
"We think of something, why don't you start suggesting?" I turned to the taller player.
"Hmmm. How about ignoring him?"
"Iie, too easy, predictable too."
"How about ditching dates?"
"He'll just find somebody new."
"Ahhhh! What do you want it's so hard to think!" Sakuragi sounded frustrated that he was scratching his head furiously.
"How about humialating him in public?" I asked the doaho.
"Hmmm. Not bad, we could make him look mental?"
"Mental eh? Like a nut?"
"UHUH! That's right! But how do we do that?" Sakuragi said aloud. Sakuragi snapped his fingers and looked positively triumphant about something.
"Nani? What is it?" I asked sounding excited.
"We change personalities." Rukawa dropped his jaw, he sounded totally disgusted. I raised my chin at him.
"Are you out of your mind?" I almost yelled at him.
"Are you insulting me?" Sakuragi sounded threatening.
Relax kitsune! Listen to me first okay. So we make dates with Sendoh where we would be seen in public. Then we could ask the team or my gundam to help us pull the stunt that you are me and I am you. We do this a couple more times or until Sendoh is convinced that something is definitely wrong with him." Sakuragi stopped confused at what he is saying, he then look imploringly at Rukawa. "So what do you think?" The super rookie was dead silent. "Oi, Rukawa?" Rukawa then cracked a smile and Hanamichi noted the mad gleam in his eye. "Not bad doaho."
"Rukawa we are not going to pull this off, if you stay hopelessly expressionless!" Sakuragi threw his arms in frustration. He was staying overnight at Rukawa's to practice. "Its not easy coz I'm not stupid!" I yelled at him. Hell! This was more difficult than basketball! I'm beginning to wonder why I ever said yes to this plan.
"Then be stupid!" Sakuragi sounded annoyed already so I decided to take a breather. "Let's rest a moment okay? This doaho business is exhausting!" Rukawa closed his eyes and mustered all his patience and anger to go on with the torture of a practice. With newfound determination, Rukawa bolted upright and said, "Let's continue." "Are you sure?" Sakuragi looked doubtful. "Hai." "Alright so, everybody associates me with my laugh so you gotta laugh like I do, which I do most of the time. You have to laugh long and hard like this. NYAHAHAHAHA!!!" "At the top of your lungs of course!" Sakuragi waved his index finger at me. "Nyahahaha?" "Well, that's a start but now, try to laugh with passion." With passion huh? Well, I only have passion in basketball, Rukawa visualized that he defeated Maki and that he replaced him as the best player in Kanagawa prefecture. Relishing the thought, Rukawa laughed long and hard. "NYAHAHAHAHA!!!" Dead silence.
Sakuragi felt as if he were dreaming. Rukawa was laughing. He was laughing. Never Would Sakuragi have thought that he'd see the cool player smile, much more laugh. He chuckled inwardly to himself; now that you think about it, my laugh is driving me nuts! "Woooow! Rukawa I never knew you were so good!" I praised him. "Tensai Sakuragi, ne?" Rukawa replied. We both cracked up.
"I have a good feeling about this Rukawa, I think we are going to pull this off!" Sakuragi was hopping up and down in his excitement. Rukawa chuckled. "I may be a good actor, but how about you?" Rukawa looked up to me and smiled, again. I turned red instantly. "Oi, doaho you okay?" Rukawa reached over to touch my forehead. My head was spinning, being this close to Rukawa makes me catch my breath. Feeling the heat, I took a couple of steps back. "Hai, daijobu" I mumbled. Regaining composure I said, "Tensai Sakuragi remember, besides" with a flick of his wrist, "you're sleeping all the time anyway!" Rukawa looked annoyed. "Okay so let's practice what you do to be fair" I compromised to Rukawa. But Rukawa never answered back. He was asleep again.
"Done in already huh? Kaede?" Hmmm. Kaede, I like his name. Actually I like everything about you. I reached over and traced the outline of the kitsune's face. He really is handsome. I took Rukawa in my arms, deciding that the couch is not a suitable place for Rukawa to sleep. I looked in on every room to check where Rukawa's room was. At last I found his room, well anyone could assume that this was his room; it was full with basketball paraphernalia. I gently laid the kitsune to bed, and let my touch linger with him a much as possible. Without thinking I kissed him. "Goodnight Kaede."
Sakuragi left Rukawa's residence, he decided to go home. He left Rukawa a note saying he went home.
I need to think. Sakuragi was walking in circles around his house. This exercise is not helping! Sakuragi thought to himself. "What have I done?" He mumbled to himself, recalling how he kissed Rukawa goodnight. But that wasn't bothering him, what was bothering him is that he enjoyed the feel of Rukawa in his arms, the feel of Rukawa's soft lips on his own. AHHH! Kuso, I can't understand it, why am I hyperventilating when Rukawa is near, why am I blushing when he smiles at me? Kuso, kuso, kuso!! He banged his head on the wall to calm down. Wait! I am tensai I can sort this out. He thinks. Oh, I've felt this before; it was when I was in love with Haruko! "It can't be." Sakuragi toppled to the ground as realization struck him. "It can't be." Sakuragi's definitely sure this time. He was in love with Rukawa.