3. The Bet: Rukawa and Sendoh

"Ah! I'm so bored!" Fukuda cried.

"Now I know why Rukawa sleeps so much. What else is there to do?" Koshino said, "where's Sendoh?"

"Sendoh-sama? I think he went fishing," Hikoichi said.

"Must we all be here? You think King Taoka will let us out one at a time? I haven't seen anything suspicious at all. Like there's really a need to have the 4 of us guarding him," Koshino said, "all we do is sit around."

They all sighed.

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Sendoh glanced across the stream at Rukawa. That's why he picked this spot to fish because he realize under the tree across from this spot was one of Rukawa's favorite place to sleep. It was odd. He liked being around Rukawa, especially when he was sleeping. He looked different when he was asleep: kinder, sweeter, more vulnerable. Was that not why he volunteered to sleep in the same room as Rukawa? Sure his excuse was because someone had to protect Rukawa at all times but that wasn't his real reason. It was hard to tell whether Sendoh liked being around Rukawa because he looked like Yuu or because he was a mystery Sendoh wanted to unveil.

A white pigeon landed on Rukawa's leg. He opened his eyes and took a small piece of paper off the pigeon's leg brace. This caught Sendoh's attention. Rukawa got up and crossed the bridge. Sendoh followed him, "Rukawa."

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Rukawa suspected him to ask about the paper but he asked instead, "Why don't you ever smile?"

Without looking at him, Rukawa asked, "What is there to smile about?"

"Lots of things. Being alive, being healthy, the beautiful scenery."

'But that's not why you smile,' Rukawa thought but kept quiet.

"Bet I can make you smile," Sendoh said with a grin.

'Baka. Do I still know how to smile?' he wondered.

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Sendoh began tickling Rukawa on his neck, under his arm, on the side of his stomach. Rukawa stood still, 'Isn't he ticklish at all?'

"Are you through? Are you trying to tickle me, search for this?" he asked holding out the note from the pigeon and added after a pause, "or…is it just an excuse to touch me?"

"…" Sendoh froze.

Rukawa walked away.

Shohoku

The homing pigeon landed on the perch outside the window.

"It's back!" Haruko cried.

"The one sent to Rukawa?" Mitsui asked.

"Read it," Ryota said.

Haruko skimmed through the note, "He tells us not to go see him again and only send him a note if absolutely necessary. His new protectors are very strong."

"His new protectors can't be stronger than us!" Hanamichi said, "we can't leave him there. The kitsune might talk."

Kogure knew despite all Hanamichi said, he felt bad about Rukawa's situation. Hanamichi felt obligated to rescue Rukawa, since Rukawa was caught because Hanamichi needed his help. But Kogure agreed they had to rescue Rukawa from that bird cage. He's got to talk to Akagi about this.

Ryonan

Rukawa spotted Sendoh with a wounded baby bird in his hand.

~Vision~

The baby bird. On the ground. Bleeding. A bloody mess. Dead.

~End of Vision~

"It's useless to try save it," Rukawa said.

"What do you mean?" Sendoh asked.

"It's destined to die. It will die in 3 days whether you try to help it or not."

"Well, aren't you perky. I don't believe destiny controls us and I believe I can heal it."

Rukawa snort, "You can't protect it from fate."

'He seems pessimistic,' Sendoh thought, "care to have a bet Rukawa-san?"

Rukawa laid back on the bed.

"If it lives until the 17th, the fourth day I win and you must promise me to do something. If you win you can command me to do anything."

"I can command you to do anything now," he stated.

"…"

"But I'll accept you condition," Rukawa said.

End of Chapter 3