The Hermit

Chapter 2

It started on that day… when I realized she wasn't coming.

I knew I would never get rid of the real me. I knew that it was just waiting for someone to call on to it. To draw it out. Deep inside I hoped Haruko would be the one… but she wasn't.

On the surface, things seemed calm and normal. I was a junior now at Shohoku High. The basketball team was doing ok. Akagi-sempai, Mitsui-sempai and Kogure-sempai may have gone, but we had a lot of promising freshmen this year. We had a very good shot at the nationals. I still didn't pay much attention to class, but I was still passing. I chased after Haruko, she chased Rukawa and Rukawa played basketball. The guntai as always, kept close, making fun and bets off everything.

It all changed one day at practice.

The Sakuragi household was located in ordinary neighbourhood, the only difference between them and the rest of the inhabitant on the area was their property took up a whole block. It couldn't really be considered a proper household though, the only occupants of the house was Hanamichi and some servants. The rest of the family was currently out of the country, his parents were on Britain, taking care of their business interests there. His 2 younger sisters were there as well.

Being the first born, Hanamichi was heir to a vast fortune. He knew that he would have to take that responsibility one day. His parents had understood his need to settle and grow in one place for a while… with friends. They knew that he needed to cherish his childhood. So when they left, they decided to leave Hanamichi behind.

It had been like this for 2 years now…

It was another practice day. I didn't feel well that way. I caught Haruko staring at Rukawa again… my mask was cracking. I couldn't act like my usual obnoxious self. Reality had finally caught up with me. It was time to stop fooling myself. I finally gave up that day.

Surprisingly it didn't hurt this time, not much anyway. It wasn't that sharp pain I imagined it to be, I didn't feel any emotions boiling over. It was more like a heavy feeling on my chest. A persistent weight. I felt empty.

I don't really remember what happened at that practice. My team mates may have noticed, it really isn't important. It doesn't matter anyway. Mito mentioned something about it the other day, not that I was surprised. The Guntai understood. They know. They are are like me. They know. My friends….

Anyway, I cant really think of anyone caring much. Notice yes, care.. No. They don't matter anyway. I remember one of Haruko's friends looking at me strangely… I don't really know her name. Not that it matters.

Where was I… oh yeah. The practice. I really didn't remember much about it… except near the end… when my mobile started chirping.

I didn't really notice it at first. Its not something im used to… people usually don't call me there. The only people who knew the number were my family and the Guntai. My family rarely calls at school hours so when I heard it during practice… I dismissed it. It kept ringing and ringing… it was getting annoying. I looked around, trying to localize the source of the sound… it came from the corner, near our bags. I remember looking at the team, with a questioning expression on their faces, they were looking at the corner. No one moved. It still kept ringing. I realized it was mine all along.

Ayako was looking at the particular corner curiously. She could hear a mobile ringing, but didn't know anyone who actually owned one. (lets pretend it's the early 90's again, when cellular phones were rare and very expensive.) There were quite expensive, she didn't know anyone wealthy enough to actually own one.

It was silent for a long time, nothing could be heard except the persistent ring. They were startled when Hanamichi called for a substitution, and went to answer the call.

"Hello?"

"Father. Is something wrong?"

"Ok. Will you be staying long? Did you come alone?"

"Ill still in practice."

"Ok then. Ill meet you there."

"Oh.. ok ill bring them along"

"Ja"

AN:

The Fic is named after the Hermit Crab. Just so you know.