Title: Penny for Your Thoughts

Author: Crescent Quetzalcoatl

Genre: Drama

Rating: PG-13 (for now)

Disclaimer: SD characters are not mine. You happy? I'm not… *sigh*

Chapter 3: Twisted

"This is it?!" a harsh, steely voice barked.

"Yes."

"How many were there?!"

"Two."

"Pathetic." Mr. Harsh-Voice spat at him, taking almost all of what he earned.

+++

Pathetic.

That's what best describe him. King of Rebounds. Self-proclaimed Tensai Baskettoman. And now, vice captain of the Shohoku basketball club. But it all boils down to what he was feeling for himself right now in just one word.

Pathetic.

Sakuragi Hanamichi was pathetic.

He looked at his glow-in-the-dark alarm clock. It was half-past two. Closing his eyes, he leaned on the bedroom wall for support and brought up his hands to his face as tears welled up in his eyes. He cried. Again. Just like any other night after that job.

And it hasn't been that long.

*Flashback*

"Otousan! Otousan!" a fifteen-year old redhead rushed to his father's side, panicking at the sight of the body lying, face-down on the floor. The telephone receiver was cradled in its hand.

"No… onegai…" he whispered as he tried to pull the body up. "Kami-sama… onegai! Don't let anything bad happen to him!"

*End of Flashback*

Sakuragi shifted, lying on his side against the cold floor.

*Flashback*

"Let me pass!" the redhead boy was surrounded by several mean-looking people. Only few of them he had clobbered a while ago.

"No way, kid. You're gonna pay for beating us up!" someone with a cut lip spat.

"Not today, please. My otousan needs help," Sakuragi was getting impatient.

"Too bad. We don't care."

*End of Flashback*

His tears didn't cease from flowing, creating a small pool of salty liquid on the floor. He curled up in a fetal position, eyes shutting everything around him.

*Flashback*

Sakuragi stood by his father's coffin. No tears made their way to the orphaned boy's eyes. He had cried that night, and every other night before and now, not a single tear would drop from them.

The pastor closed the book and whispered something to him. He didn't move, for he didn't hear. All he was thinking of was his father under that heavy old wood, lying cold and lifeless.

His best friend looked up to him and took hold of his arm, guiding him to the casket where he was supposed to place the first flower for his father. Not many people attended the funeral but his best friend and his Gundan were there. A few friends from his father's work and occasional acquaintances here and there.

Sakuragi finally made the move. Carefully he laid a bouquet of white orchids, his father's favorite flowers, and the last gift he will ever give to his otosan. As he stepped back to give way to the other mourners, he raised his eyes to the last person his father was able to speak to.

Another redhead.

His brother. Sakuragi Shiomori.

*End of Flashback*

*Flashback*

"You're too young to live by yourself," Shiomori talked to Hanamichi while the latter was taking out all his clothes and putting them in a duffel bag. Shiomori was taking the clothes back and removing them from the bag.

"I don't care! I don't want to live here anymore!" Hanamichi shouted, slapping his brother's hands and pushing him away. "I don't want to live with you! You're the one who caused otosan's death!"

Shiomori's face darkened. "You don't understand—"

"But I do!" Hanamichi faced him full of hatred and… disgust. "I DO! You and your dirty job did this to him! And I want to stay away unless you'll cause my death too!"

"Onegai, hear me out first, Hana-chan—"

"NO! I don't want to see you again. EVER!!!" Hanamichi grabbed his bags and headed to the door. Shiomori grabbed his arm while pleading to be heard but Hanamichi punched him in the guts then slamming the door on the way out. He didn't look back, he didn't want to see his brother.

And he didn't know that it'll be last time he'll ever see him.

*End of Flashback*

The tears ceased from flowing. Only silent breathing filled the air. On the cold floors he had fallen asleep but no more dreams will come to him.

*Flashback*

NO!

Hanamichi's body shook with fear and anger. Seeing him with his own eyes, feeling him as he lay lifeless and battered, was like dying on that very moment. Shiomori was dead. And his job had caused it.

"NO!!!!"

+++

"You need to take his place."

Hanamichi was cornered in a dark alley few days after his brother's burial. It was like having a flashback the day his father died.

"WHO ARE YOU?! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY BROTHER?!" Hanamichi screamed at them, knowing they're the one responsible for his death.

"We didn't do anything. He's the one who committed suicide," a man with dark eyeglasses spoke, revealing no emotions behind those cold, creepy voice. "He's still indebted to us. Now that he's dead, you have to take his place."

"I'm not gonna do it! Kill me if you want to but I'm not working for you!" Hanamichi screamed once more and lunged at those guys, wanting to beat them into bloody pulp and punishing them for his family's demise.

He attacked them, he punched and kicked them. But at that hour of the night, no one will be able to save him when six men started to hit him. But he was no match for them. He's out numbered, the thugs ganged up on him and beat him to silence.

"But you will. Except you want anyone to know about this?"

Hanamichi raised a bruised eye to glare at the man. "What?"

"We don't let anyone know about us. Unless, someone will die for it. For example… Mito Youhei?" the man grinned evilly as the other thugs held Hanamichi in place.

Hanamichi's eyes widen, realization started to sink in. No… I can't…

"You don't need to do it everyday cause we'll be calling you. Your brother was paid largely every time, and we got our share but these past few weeks he's been quite a problem for us. He doesn't want to do it anymore and he tried telling the authorities. But, hey! It's not our fault. Too bad, he's left you filling he's shoes!" he laughed, and the others laughed. They were the scum of the earth, feeding on helpless souls, and taking the weak to their dark, forbidden world.

"C'mon it'll be fun," the evil man grinned again. Hanamichi wanted to punch that stupid grin forever but he's as helpless as a mouse. "Once you paid the debt. You're free. I promise. I'll even sign a contract if that's what you want."

The redhead struggled but beaten up once more. "Sakuragi, we know everything about you. You're the reason why Shiomori got into this job."

Tears fell from Hanamichi's eyes. When his brother called his father for help, his otosan had a heart attack from the news. He pushed Shiomori away, believing he's nothing but a dirt in the family and shut his ears to explanations. Shiomori was trying to save them all along. But he left him and he's all alone.

The sun-glassed man nodded. His grin never left his face.

Hanamichi was left in the alley. Waiting for the sun to rise again.

*End of Flashback*

-tsuzuku-

Crescent speaks:

Gomen for this chap. Too angst-y, ne? Please review. I'm not over with my depression yet. Hope it's not too bad. I'll edit this when I got more time. Meanwhile, this is for everyone!

Thanks to all who reviewed!!! Oh yeah, please REVIEW again!!! =)

Hikaru Itsuko – here it is the next chapter. Hope you like it.

Tina Caps – thanks for reviewing. I like all your works , you know. I agree that Hana's character is so flexible, maybe that's why I'm at ease when writing his parts. Oh, the beeping thingies was a car. I didn't know it wasn't obvious 'til my friend pointed it out. Gomen! Maybe the next chapters will be explaining them. Please keep on reading. Thanks!

Akane – thanks for reading and reviewing. I'll try working a lot harder. *wink*

Kristel – it's because like the pairing very much… =) thanks!

sLL – hey! Thanks for reviewing!! I hope you like this one. Maybe it will not answer all the questions but it's kinda long so, next chap maybe? I'll try not to make hana more sad..

sol – hehe…