Disclaimer : Slam Dunk is owned by Takehiko Inoue. Keitaro is mine!
Note: Sentences in italics are thoughts.
*******
hibari - Golly, I am so glad you liked it. Thank you sooo much!
afrokane - Yup!
tensai-yuki - Right, we don't want to rush things, do we?
Jo - Know what? I have this fic I am planning on where Rukawa and Haruko would be engaging in a passionate kiss. Nyahah!
lambie - No need for apologies. Last time I checked, I'm still a girl. Domo arigato gozaimasu! *bows*
Cjaira #8 - I know. There's only a few of us out there. We're kinda like an exclusive club ahahaha! Kikiam also makes RuHaru fics.
Ginny W - Wooohooo! Thanks!
AjA - Some will say it's getting more and more sappy *shrugs* but I can't help it... eheheh.
December Morning Owl - What a pen name! But of course, Ryota & Ayako are meant for each other. Thanks!
*******
I Couldn't Ask For More
Chapter 9: Burying The Hatchet
1:09 pm. In less than an hour, they will be coming. He has to admit he's excited to see them again. And her, of course. He was looking at his gate from the window of his room when he thought he saw something red. He focused his attention and his eyes grew wide when he realized that it was a tall man walking at the street in front of his house. The do'aho!
His former rival has a big paper bag on his right hand and was looking at the piece of paper on his left hand. The redhead started looking around him as if he was lost or something.
Then Sakuragi walked past his house.
Rukawa slapped his forehead. Still a do'aho.
Rukawa bolted out of his room and ran downstairs. When he got out of his house, he hesitated for a second. He doesn't know how he should approach him, as he is unsure if the redhead still considers him as a rival. Slowly, he opened the gate and saw the back of Sakuragi a few paces away from him.
"Oi! Do'aho." He wasn't shouting but it was enough for the redhead to turn his back and see him.
Sakuragi just stood there for a while and looked at him. Kitsune? Rukawa seems different. He isn't glaring this time. In fact, he even had a gentle look on his face. When Rukawa gestured to him to come inside, Sakuragi slowly walked up to him and eyed him. "Ki-- Kitsune? Is that you?"
The man standing outside the gate rolled his eyes. "No, I am his ghost."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sakuragi Hanamichi secretly admired Rukawa's taste in purchasing a real property. It's not a mansion but the property definitely has class. It has a big yard and a spacious garage. He saw a bike and figured Rukawa never left his passion for biking. He started to wonder how many lampposts Rukawa had bumped into since he arrived from America. Then he saw a covered basketball court located at the left side of the house. It's only natural, he thought, as Rukawa's first love has always been basketball.
"How come you're so early?" Rukawa gestured to the couch.
The redhead lowered himself to the couch and put the paper bag beside him. "I came early because I thought I would get lost."
"You almost did, do'aho."
Sakuragi's eyes turned into slits. "Teme kitsune, are you asking for a fight!?"
"Do'aho, we don't have to fight anymore. There's no reason for it now."
Sakuragi's demeanor softened. He knew that he was just jealous of Rukawa because of Haruko. He's right. There's no reason to fight anymore. "I wonder if Haruko is coming," he asked to no one in particular.
The basketball player studied the man in front of him. He figured that Sakuragi and Haruko must still be friends up to now. He knew very well that the two shared a close friendship back in high school. "Yes, she's coming," he answered.
Sakuragi almost smirked. Since when did Rukawa care about Haruko's activities? He never cared for her in high school. "You broke her heart. Do you know that?" He said flatly.
Rukawa swallowed. That he very well knew. The redhead knew exactly where to hit him. "I know."
"Well, anyway," Sakuragi shrugged and continued. "She's married now and has a son."
His statement caught Rukawa's attention. He doesn't know? He kept quiet thinking that it would be better if Haruko would be the one who would tell him.
The two men engaged in a light talk as they exchanged experiences and laughter in the course of their conversations. Rukawa talked about his stints in America and Sakuragi shared things about his family and his gundan.
"I didn't know you could laugh, kitsune," the redhead remarked.
"Of course, do'aho," the raven-haired man responded. "I am human. Just like you."
Sakuragi nodded thoughtfully. For the first time since he knew Rukawa, he actually felt good talking to him.
No hard feelings.
It was so different from the times when all they wanted to do was to cut each other's throats. Now it's like he found a long lost brother. "So why did you come back?"
"This is my home," Rukawa replied. "I have to come back."
Sakuragi raised his arm in front of Rukawa as if asking for an arm wrestling. "Past is past?"
Rukawa nodded and clasped the redhead's hand. "Past is past."
A firm, manly grip of each other's right hands sealed a pact of friendship and brotherhood.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Haruko and Keitaro arrived. The two welcomed her and an exchange of greetings and pleasantries ensued.
"Thanks a lot, Rukawa-kun!" She said when Rukawa helped her with the things she brought. Then she smiled cheerfully when she saw her best friend. "Sakuragi-kun! How are you?"
"I am fine!" Sakuragi happily answered back. "What about you?"
"I am doing alright, too!" she replied. "Did you bring Aki-chan and Hide-chan with you?"
"No, it was a long trip. Akiko was worried that they would just get tired."
"Ahh… yes." Haruko turned to her son. "Kei-chan, say hello to your Sakuragi oji-san!"
Little Keitaro bowed to the man whom he considers as an uncle. He recognized him because of his red hair.
"Keitaro, you've grown!" Sakuragi ruffled the little boy's hair. "You were so small when I last saw you!"
Keitaro beamed up at him. "Hai, Sakuragi oji-san!"
"When you grow up, you would be a tensai just like me! Nyahahaha!!! Here, this is for you." Sakuragi gave him the paper bag that he's been holding all this time.
"Yosh!" Keitaro jumped when he saw a robot toy inside the bag. "Domo arigato gozaimazu, Sakuragi oji-san!" The little boy bowed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sakuragi played with Keitaro. He was showing the little boy how to operate the robot toy he gave to him. It was a top of the line robot from their toy factory, which he and his gundan set up.
Meanwhile, Rukawa helped Haruko unload the food she brought for the reunion. They arranged the food on the table located at the hall. He also led Haruko to the kitchen where the food warmer is located.
After setting up the table, Rukawa wondered if there's anything more that needs to be done, as the rest of the team would come anytime now. Then he remembered something.
"You said we need internet access?" he asked Haruko.
"Hai," Haruko replied. "If you have one, Onii-chan could join us."
"I've already set up the computer." He gestured to the computer a few feet away from them. "We can turn it on now."
"Hai."
Haruko followed Rukawa. She sat down on the chair, turned on the computer, grabbed the mouse and connected to the internet. When she couldn't find the instant messenger that she and her brother were using, she asked for Rukawa's assistance.
Rukawa, who was just standing behind her leaned closer and grabbed the mouse. It was when Rukawa maneuvered the mouse that Haruko realized that his hand was already on top of her hand holding the mouse.
"Is this the one?" Rukawa asked and looked at her.
Baby blue eyes met deep blue eyes.
Haruko swallowed hard. Suddenly, those feelings came rushing back again. It took all of her efforts to pry her eyes away from him and pay attention to the monitor.
"Y-Yes. T-That's the one." She wanted to kick herself for stammering and for feeling what she's feeling right now.
Rukawa clicked on the mouse and set up the instant messenger including the mic and webcam. It was just in time when he released her hand and the mouse when he heard Ayako and Miyagi talking on the way to the hall.
"They're here," he said. "I better check on them."
Haruko nodded stiffly. When she felt that she was already alone, she leaned her elbows on the computer table and covered her face with her hands. She couldn't believe what had just happened. And now her heart is beating erratically. She closed her eyes and breathed out some air to calm herself down.
Haruko, you baka! Those were just accidental.
They don't mean anything.