Title: Kaede Jr.
Blahblahblah...
A/N:
Hello, minna! I just resurrected from a long period of *slump*. Writer's block. Oral (or written?) constipation and diarrhea. Sorry for the delay. And yeah, I just re-read the previous fics and chapters I made... and realized that I have a lot of TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS around. SOOOOOO sorry for that. I'll be careful next time.
Anyway, just wanna scribble a special hello to Jam, qkslvr (Don't forget your promise! ^_^), White Meteor, Cheeky, Jasmine, Wen, Kim, Ru-chan and the author extraordinaire, MIKU...
And also, wanna say thank you to all these people whom I can't personally mail since either there are problems on their (or my) mail thingy, or because I have no way of knowing what their addies are:
Scarlet Maple, Lady Blue, ding, Shinri Ayase (Never mind you. We see each other every freakin day.), Hibiki-chan, Akira and Vero... Thanks a lot for reviewing!
Enjoy! ^_^
Oh, one more thing: I'm sorry if the third chapter's title is misleading.. *scratches head*... That was kinda my goal, you know. But don't worry. There wouldn't be any Akira Jr. One little demon is enough in this ficcie. ^_^
Last thing (I promise): I'm sorry about the Haruko-SEMPAI thing on chapter three. I was kinda disoriented when I was writing that chapter, two in the morning and all... Gomen!
DiScLAimerS: Slam dunk doesn't belong to me. Is that enough?
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Kaede Jr.
Chapter Four: Meet the Parents
I've never had a better day than this.
This is the best day of my life.
I've got to sit down and catch my breath. After all, that *kiss* did me in. Heh, that little squirt played cupid all day long. I didn't know he had it in him. I never imagined that a seven-year-old kid could have that much mischief. I've been running since I was sure Rukawa-kun... my Kaede couldn't see me anymore. I just feel *so* happy and giddy! Oh, this swing is okay.
I've had so much fun in a few hours than I did in my whole lifetime. Spending time with *my* two Kaedes made me happier than I've ever been. I'm sooooo happy that a few moments earlier, I actually jumped high into the air and clapped my heels. I wonder what Kaede-kun (Am I becoming bolder, or what? Oh well, he couldn't hear me, anyway) would say if he saw me do that? Hn. He would probably roll his eyes at me again.
Although yeah, there were a few *ehm* minor setbacks i.e. the flower thing, the teddy bear thing (I was so damn nervous... I wanted to make a good impression, and look what happened. Baka, Akira!), and the um... crystal crash thing (totally humiliating, ugh), but all in all, it was a perfect day. Kae-chan had been very helpful today. We talked a lot about Kaede-kun. What he likes, what he does, what he hates. The little tike was the one who suggested the flower thing. Too bad it didn't work out. The flowers were very pretty. Excluding, of course, the protruding roots and soil.
One more special thing about today is that I've learned a lot more about Kaede in a few hours than all those times we were together. No one ever knew how caring that Ice Prince could be. No one but me. I know, because I've seen it myself.
I've seen it in his unconscious way of caring for his brother.
I've noticed those times he would scold his brother when the boy tripped, and called him names like little maggot, little devil, little whatever, whilst all the while dusting Kae-chan and fixing his little clothes.
I've noticed those times when he would unconsciously pat his little brother's head when the little kid won some silly game. He kinda looked so proud.
I've noticed the way he concentrated on the silly duck game so he could get Mr. Teddy for Kae-chan.
And I've noticed that pained look in his eyes when Kae-chan called me oniisan.
Although he doesn't want to admit it, he loves his brother very much. Blood is thicker than water, so they say. Kaede complains a lot about Kae-chan, but he still loves him. I know. I can feel it.
I do wonder why they have a distant relationship, though. It was as if there was a barrier between them that prevents them from reaching out to each other. Whatever that thing is, I'll help them overcome it. After all, a half-wit would notice that despite their meanness (Akira, are you inventing terms?) to each other, they actually love each other. The thing is, they don't even notice that. Two proud Rukawas. I wonder... does pride really run through their family's veins? Those two are so damn amusing. I've never seen brothers like that. So kawaii!
And what the heck... who would have thought that Kaede actually liked *teddies*? That is the discovery of a lifetime! I can't help but laugh... Ooops, there's a man looking at me in a strange way. He must have been thinking 'A spiked psycho was laughing all by himself, sitting on a swing that was way too little for him...'
Oh, who the hell cares? We all have free will.
Kaede liked teddy bears! Hah! Scoop of the century! I was pretty shocked myself when Kae-chan whispered that to me while Kaede was shooting the damn restless ducks. The Ice Prince of Shohoku... Teddy bears... It is the greatest oxymoron of the world.
But the cutest, though.
And it makes me feel *soooo* good to think that I'M the only one in Kanagawa who knows about it. I doubt he would tell anyone else. And he was pretty surprised when I presented him the kawaii teddy. Ch, don't worry, Kaede-kun... I won't tell anyone...
And I have to laugh out loud again.
These are tiny things. Little things. Little, but significant. Knowing these things about Rukawa Kaede made me fall even more for him. This time, I know I'm not in love with the mere calm and cool Ice Prince.
I'm in love with Rukawa Kaede.
Life is good.
************************************
It's been two days since that wonderful day with Kaede-kun, but I still have a hangover. The memories keep on playing in my mind. That pristine white polo shirt, that dark blue jeans, that ruggedly windblown jet-black hair...
Not to mention that I've seen him wearing only a *towel*. I almost regretted putting up that booby trap. My hormones suddenly raged. Good thing I recovered and just focused on the funny sight of Kaede covered in flour.
*Sigh*
It's been two days since I last saw him. I've been pretty busy arranging my college papers and practice. Damn, I miss him and Kae-chan! I'm sure he's pretty busy, too, what with him being the next captain and all.
*Double sigh*
Koshino-kun scolded me again today because he said I was spacing out too much. Oh well, how could I tell him that my feelings for a certain blue-eyed boy is getting stronger by the day? How can I tell him that my feelings are about to burst... that I'm no longer contented with just playing and being with Rukawa, and that I'm starting to actually wish he would reciprocate the feelings I have for him?
He would have laughed at me. After all, I am Sendoh Akira. I'm supposed to be the coolest guy in Ryonan! I'm a basketball god. Girls worshipped me. Guys idolized me. Teachers respect me. Newspaper reporters trip on their own two feet just to exchange a few words with me. I am the epitome of perfection! I could have had the prettiest girl in Kanagawa. Heck, I've had the prettiest girl in Kanagawa for my girlfriend! But I don't want anyone of those pretty girls.
I want Rukawa Kaede.
I had no idea it would hurt this much, though.
I had no idea that wanting someone so much would hurt. I didn't know. All I know is to flirt with girls, tease them, date them, and then leave them brokenhearted. No one knew that I'm such an idiot when it comes to the real thing.
I started to actually yearn for someone. Someone who's possibly so unreachable. It hurts, you know, when you want someone you know you couldn't have. He never thought of anything but basketball. If he have any thoughts on romance, then he would probably be straight. He gave no indications that he's gay, or bi, or whatever. No indications whatsoever. He's always that calm, cool Ice Prince, whose dead eyes would only come alive when he holds an orange ball.
But I love him, nonetheless.
*Triple Sigh*
I wish my family was here. I wish I could talk this out with my oneesan, or my oniisan, or even my parents. We've always been a close-knit family. At times like these, I wish they're near me, so they could help me with my problems. Nowadays, though, it seems as though everyone's so busy, with me being far from them, parents working harder than usual, and my older brother and sister busy with their respective careers.
Families shouldn't be taken for granted. I wonder what Kaede's family is like? Are they so quiet like him? Are they nice? Are they stiff and formal? After all, they're pretty rich. What kind of people are his parents?
I suddenly want to know.
I could picture Kaede's parents as one of those people who probably had afternoon tea while conversing politics or the stock market or something. They would probably be the corporate-looking type. Tuxedoes, shined leather boots, and a pipe for the father. Red gowns, manicured fingers, carefully styled hair for the mother.
*Four sighs*
Maybe I should do something other than stare out the window like some kid who's waiting for someone. Or a dog who's waiting for his master. Whatever.
*Ring!*
Now who could be calling me? Koshino, maybe? What does he want? Is he gonna berate me for moping inside the house on a bright Sunday afternoon?
*Ring!* *Ring!*
"Alright! I'm coming!" I shouted. Baka Akira. Do you actually think the person could hear that? Oh well. "Hello?"
"May please speak with Sendoh Akira, please?" said a *very* familiar voice.
"Speaking. Who's this?"
"It's Rukawa."
My heart leaped to my throat. My heart started to pound. I had the sudden impulse to *squeal*. This is RUKAWA we're talking about. And he's on the other line! He knows what my number is! He knows! He called!
"Sendoh? Are you there?"
"Ah, hai! *sweatdrop* I just uh... thought I saw a mouse." Lame excuse, you moron! The object of your affections is on the other end of the line and you act like a pathetic dweeb?
"Do'aho."
"Ehehehe... Ne, Rukawa-kun, what made you call?" I asked. Now that was suave. Cool one, Akira. And what is that I'm hearing on the background? Are those plates crashing? Heh, Kae-chan's at it again, eh?
"The little exterminator who's currently redecorating my kitchen wants you here for dinner," he said in his usual monotone.
"Ne, is that an invitation, Rukawa-kun?" I asked, my hopes flaring.
"Call it as you wish," he replied.
See? He's so far away! He's so cold. What are the chances of having a *relationship* with him? None, Akira. Don't get your hopes too high.
"When would be a convenient time?" I asked, and have to make a face when I heard Rukawa shout 'Watch it!' then a loud crash following it.
"Rukawa-kun! What happened?"
"He insists on learning how to set the damn table," Rukawa replied. I stifled a laugh at his helpless and resigned tone. "Says he wants you here tonight."
"Honto? Tonight?"
"I just said that."
"Oh. Sorry. Tonight then," I said. I don't know if I would smile or not. I'd be able to see him again, yeah... but then- Ah hell. Seeing him is better than nothing. "What time?"
"Six would be fine," he said. And I heard him mutter, 'I'd have new plates by then.'
"Okay. I'll be there at six p.m. sharp!" I said.
"Oh, and my parents will be here, too. Don't know why, though. I hope you wouldn't mind," he said.
"No! Not at all! I'd love to meet them," I said and smiled. I'm geting really excited now. What time is it? Darn! It's just two! What would I do for four hours?
"I'll see you then," he said. There was another loud crash, followed by a loud, high-pitched ouch. Rukawa cursed, slammed the phone and the line went dead.
"I'll see you, too," I whispered and gently replaced the handset.
I'll see him again tonight. Though it's a wonderful experience, it also breaks my heart. Being near him, yet not being able to touch him. Talking to him, yet not being able to reach out and find out what his feelings are...
My thoughts drifted to that moment when I was singing for him. I poured my heart and soul into that song, and all he did was just stare at me with that deadpan expression. A marble statue could have had more expressions than him. I could feel my heart breaking again as I remembered it. And I could feel it mending somewhat when he finally said that I was good. Simple words, awkwardly delivered...
/Er, you have a nice voice. Good song, too./
...but it lifted my spirit. He tried, and thinking about that... I guess it was enough.
My thoughts drifted to that accidental kiss. No, I could never forget that fleeting moment, when his soft lips touched mine for the briefest seconds.. before he pulled away like he's been kissed by a demon with three horns or something. I was pretty hurt, yeah, but looking into those confused blue pools, I guess I couldn't blame him. He wasn't really used to human contact.
And besides, for the first time ever, there was some *emotion* in those cold blue pools. There was something besides *nothing*. It made me feel kinda good that at least I could evoke some emotion in him. It made me feel good that I could actually affect him, even in the littlest way.
I wonder... would he feel something for me if I showed my feelings? Or would he just *stare* at me like he did when I gave him flowers (plus my heart), or when I sang that song for him (which came from my heart). Maybe I should be bolder... try harder.
Like that kiss. It did evoke some reaction.
Or maybe something less, after all, I wouldn't want to push him away. But definitely bold.
Tensai Akira! You are such a genius.
With a renewed spirit I ran up to my room. I have to look my best tonight! Lemme see, where's that new cologne I bought? Ah, right here. Where's that new polo? That dark blue one? Here it is... Should I wear slacks, or jeans? His parents will be there, gotta make a good impression. Slacks, it is. Black, gray, white, or beige? Hmmmm... I'll go for the beige this time. Don't want to look too dark. Let me see... what about the shoes? Black leather, or brown? I'll go for the black. Should I wear a tie, or not? A tie'll look formal. I'll go get my one and only tie. I hope they won't mind the design, though. I haven't got any of those formal looking ties. Oh well, I hope they're okay with Winnie the Pooh.
That's all set! Off to the shower you go, Sendoh Akira!
***********************************************
Don't be nervous. Calm down. Take a deep breath. You look great, just calm down. All you gotta do is wait a few seconds, and when your watch says six o'clock, push the doorbell, smile your best smile and say a suave, cool greeting.
Five more minutes before six. Is my hair OK? Yep, it is.
I imagined Kaede's otousan. Tall, sleek, formal. Must have had graying hair, but still slicked back, away from the face. He must be one of those CEO's who stood tall and dangerous. He must have intelligent and scrutinizing eyes. Lemme see... what have I learned about the current events? I've been reading since this afternoon. I've also read some from the stock market and also politics section of the newspaper. I really want to have a decent conversation with him...
Three more... shit, what's this on my slacks? There, it's gone.
I imagined Kaede's okaasan. Must be one of those slim, bored-looking, ballroom dancing, elite women. The perfect elite wife for the perfect elite husband. I imagined a sophisticated woman who wears gowns and who has sleek, manicured, dainty fingers. Must be one of those women who spends half of the day on the salon just so they could have their hair styled higher than mine could ever be.
One more minute...
Kaede and Kae-chan must have been calling them 'father' and 'mother'. They grew up with nannies. Maybe that's why Kaede is so quiet, and why Kae-chan is so *energetic*. They must have both craved for paternal and maternal affection.
Ten more seconds... Do I look okay?
Yep, I look so damn handsome tonight. What with me wearing my best polo and my best slacks and my new perfume and polished leather shoes, and my tie. My hair is so carefully spiked up, so I looked cool and formal at the same time.
Five, four, three, two-
Here goes everything...
*Crash!*
"Kae-chan!" It was a female voice. It doesn't sound bored or chic.
"Okaachaaaan! It huuuuurts!" Must be Kae-chan. 'Okaachan, eh?'
"Kaede, go get the first aid kit!" Male voice. Just like Kaede's. Only, it sounds more... alive. Not at all formal and stiff.
"Do'aho." Now, now... who could have said that? ^_^
"I'm not a do'aho! I just wanna help set the table!"
"Hush now, sweetie, it'll be okay. Oniichan will go get the first aid kit for you..." His mom, maybe. 'Sweetie?'
"Here you go, you little wimp."
"Kaede! That's not a nice thing to say! Say sorry to your otouto." His mom again.
"Yare yare... He's still alive, Okaasan."
"What time will your friend come? The scallop's not done yet." It must be his dad. And scallop?! Wow...
"Ne, Kaede, I heard that he's a really handsome fellow," Kaede's mom said. It wasn't the voices of elite, formal people. They sound like they're warm, happy people.
I'm beginning to get the impression that I might have worn the wrong attire...
"He's reaaaaaaally handsome! He's the cooooooolest guy I've ever met! He looks really really really really-"
"Point taken, honey," an amused female voice said. I smiled.
"-really good. See these spikes? I got it from him! Isn't it the coolest?"
"Yes, sweetie, it's the coolest."
"And you know what, Okaachan?"
"No, what?"
"I think he likes-"
"You talk too much, squirt," Kaede interrupted. He must have done something because Kae-chan yelped.
"Ow! The big meaning pinched me!"
"Kaede..."
"Did no such thing, Okaasan."
"Did to!"
"Did not."
"Didtodidtodidto!"
"I did not."
This is getting too crazy. I pushed the doorbell. They went quiet.
"Akira-niichan!" I heard Kae-chan cry out. There were shuffling footsteps, and next thing I knew, I was face-to-face with Kaede's-
Older siblings.
I didn't know he had any. The woman's brown hair was up in a high ponytail, and she had the same blue eyes like Kaede. Only warmer. Her skin tone was just like Kaede's. She's wearing an orange sweatshirt, blue jeans, and bunny slippers. The man had on a blue shirt, brown shorts, teddy slippers, and a *pink* apron, and he looked like an older, happier version of Kaede. Same hair, same eyes, though his skin was a little bit tanned. Kae-chan was right behind them, wearing a cute white shirt with a picture of a teddy's face on the center, suspenders, and blue shorts.
"Ano... Komban wa," I greeted, feeling a little awkward. "I'm Sendoh Akira."
"You're right, Kae-chan," the woman said. "He *is* handsome."
"Cool tie," the man remarked. "I'd like to have one of those."
"Come on in, Akira-niichan!" Kae-chan chirped. Both the man and woman gave way with warm, welcoming smiles as Kae-chan pulled me in. I saw Kaede coming out of the kitchen holding a dust pan with broken pieces of the plates.
"Sendoh-" he started but stopped when he saw me. My palms suddenly began to sweat. Is something wrong with me? "What the hell are you wearing?"
"Er, I couldn't decide on what to wear so..."
We stared at each other for a long time. He was wearing a green sweatshirt and blue pants. Simple, but I've never seen him more adorable. My heart skipped a beat.
"You look good," I said.
"You too," he said. "You could pass off as one of otousan's executives, though."
I could only smile sheepishly and scratch the back of my head. "Ano, Kae- Rukawa-kun... where are your parents? I didn't see them anywhere."
"We're the parents," an amused voice behind me said. I've heard that voice earlier... that means...
"We look young, don't we?" his dad joked. My eyes could've popped out of their sockets. What is it with this family?! Parents wearing bunny and teddy slippers, one troublemaker and one walking ice block... what the-
"G-gomen!" I said as I bowed. "I didn't know. You look kinda young. I thought you were Rukawa-kun's older siblings."
"My, my. A flatterer, too," Kaede's mom said as he fondly patted my shoulder.
"I'm Rukawa Kyuichi, by the way," his dad said. "Cut the formalities and call me Kyuichi."
"Rukawa Keiko. Pleased to make an acquaintance," she said as she took my hand and shook it. "Keiko would be fine."
"Hai!" was all I can say.
"Come on in, Sendoh-kun," Keiko said as he ushered me into the kitchen. Where is Kaede? Oh, there he is, in the background. Watching the scene with amusing (?) eyes. I almost halted when the aroma of the food attacked my olfactory senses. Good was an understatement. Heavenly was more like it. I stared at the food at the table. Am I drooling? Geez, I hope not.
"I set the table!" Kae-chan declared as he beamed up at me.
"Yeah, and Kaede made us replace the plates, too," Kyuichi-san joked as he ruffled Kae-chan's hair. "Sit down, everybody! The greatest chef in Japan has finished cooking the scallop! Nyahahahaha! Sit down, Sendoh-san. Don't be shy. I am the great tensai when it comes to the kitchen..."
Man, he reminds me of a certain aka atama...
Keiko-san ushered me to a seat right next to Kaede. She winked at me which made me wonder if she knew something. No... can't be. They wouldn't allow their son to have a realationship with the same gender...
"Oi, roll up your sleeves, 'ahou. It might be stained." Kaede said in the same monotonous voice. I can't help but think that his voice was out of place in this happy family. But hey... he wants me to roll up my sleeves so my polo shirt won't be stained... he cares! He cares!
"Come on son! Be happy! You have a guest, you know," Kyuichi-san mildly scolded. Kaede nearly scoffed. Kyuichi-san shook his head. "You are a sad, sad person. Brighten up, will ya?"
"Yare," Kaede muttered.
"Let's eat!" everyone said (with the exception of Kaede, of course), as we all dug in. One bite of Kyuichi-san's scallop brought tears to my eyes.
"Ne, Kyuichi-san... It's good!" I said.
"Nyahahahaha! What do you expect from a great chef like me?" he said.
Kaede snorted.
"Ne, Sendoh-san, how did you and our Kaede meet?" Keiko-san asked, opening a conversation. "Kaede doesn't talk very much, you see. He's a very shy person, even with us."
I almost choked on my food. Shy?!
"Gotcha there. Just kidding," Keiko-san said and smiled. "What I meant was that we don't get to spend too much time with Kaede since he's so busy with schoolwork and basketball, and we're so busy with our jobs, so we don't get to talk much. He did mention that he knew someone who's great at basketball though, and considers this person his rival. I'm very sure he's talking about you, though. So, how did you meet? Knowing Kaede, he would just say 'Basketball'. I wanna hear the story."
Kaede was actually rolling his eyes! What a sight... hehehe...
"Oh, it wasn't too significant," I said. "We met at a practice game about a year ago, when he was just a freshman. We got paired up, since our skills match, and that's about it. We started playing one-on-ones before they left for the Inter High last year."
"I see," Kyuichi-san said thoughtfully. "You must be a very good player."
"He is!" Kae-chan exclaimed, not wanting to be excluded from the conversation. "And he wins everytime, too!"
"You must be very uncomfortable with those clothes," Keiko-san said. I gave her a stupid grin. "Don't tell me... you thought we were those stiff, formal, tea-drinking parents, didn't you?"
"Uh... hai."
Kyuichi-san and Keiko-san laughed. Kae-chan looked at the two laughing parents, shrugged and laughed as well. Kaede snorted again. I'm beginning to warm up to this family.
"Don't worry. I'll have comfortable clothes for you after dinner," Keiko-san said.
"No need, Keiko-san," I protested. "I'm fine." It was as though my words passed hollow ears.
"Meet my mother," Kaede said, not looking up from his food. "The overprotective general."
"Now, now, Kaede," Keiko-san warned, pretending to be hurt. But there was a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Ne, Kaede... don't you think Sendoh-san looked great tonight?"
Kaede looked at me with the corner of his eye. I held my breath and waited for his answer. He said a small 'yeah' and ate his food again.
"He must be your very good friend," Kyuichi supplied. Kaede looked at me again and said a small 'yeah'.
"You two spend a lot of time together, ne?" Keiko-san asked.
"Yeah."
"And do you hang out together and do something besides *basketball*?" Kyuichi-san asked.
"Yeah."
"Like-?" Keiko-san prodded.
"Er, we sometimes eat together when our sessions ended too late," I supplied. I caught Kaede looking at me again before he looked away.
"That's good," Kyuichi-san said. "Ne, Sendoh-san, we leave it to you to help our son improve his social life!"
"I don't need a social life," Kaede said.
"Sure, honey," Keiko-san said with a smile. She looked at my now empty plate and took it and dumped some more food in it. "Gotta eat some more, Sendoh-san. Athletes need lots of energy supplements."
"Uh... hai!"
"Ne, Okaachan, what does so-cial life and e-ner-gy sup... sup-"
"Supplement," I volunteered.
"Arigatou, Akira-niichan!" Kae-chan said. "What does that mean?"
"Nothing that could be understood by that puny brain of yours," Kaede muttered.
"That's another strike, Kaede," Kyuichi-san warned. Kaede gave out a small whistle and continued to eat whilst Keiko-san supplied the definition of the terms for Kae-chan.
Comfortable silence wrapped around us afterwards. It gave me some time to look at each of them and smile to myself. They're all good people. This is a good family. Warm, loving parents, and perfect, adorable children. I looked at Kaede at the corner of my eye and smiled even more. He looks like he's so annoyed with everyone, but I can see the faint amusement in his eyes whenever his parents made a joke about something, or even when he looks at his family. He may not know or realize it, though. Probably, right now, he's thinking of how embarrasing his parents are. He's probably chanting do'aho and stupid and moron over and over again, but I can't miss that fond look in his eyes. Amazing how a quiet man could belong to such a bright and cheerful family.
The thing is, even though Kaede is the odd-man of the family, he never looked out of place. He really *belonged* here. I doubt he knew that, too. He must have been thinking that all he wanted in life is to get away from this crazy bunch and live alone. But I can't miss the contented look in his eyes whenever he watches his family.
With Kaede, words and direct actions are not important. It was what he felt that matters.
Heaven help me... I'm falling in love with him even more. Right here. At his own dining table.
"Eat more! Eat more!" Kyuichi said as he dumped more food into our plates.
Yeah... life is good.
*************************************************
"Man, I've never eaten this much before!" I said as I plopped down the grass beside Kaede. He was sitting there, knees folded and arms draped carelessly over it while he was looking at the moon. His parents suggested that we go out and get some air while they clean up the kitchen. That is, after Keiko-san dumped a white shirt and blue shorts and rubber shoes in my arms and commanded me to change.
"I'll give you two hours before you take that back," Kaede said non-chalantly. "He could have placed muriatic acid in those stuff."
"You're too hard on your dad," I said. He shrugged. "Ne, Rukawa-kun... can I call you Kaede?"
I saw him stiffen for the briefest moment before shrugging. "Suit yourself. Doesn't make any difference."
It does, my Kaede... it does.
Silence.
"Your dad reminds me of Sakuragi-kun," I said. He rolled his eyes.
"And you ask me why I don't like that ahou very much," he said. I laughed.
"Come on, now, Kaede, you've got a cool dad!" I said. He remained silent. "I envy you," I said after another period of silence. He turned his head to look at me and for a moment, my breath got stuck somewhere in my esophagus.
Moonlight shone down on his pale, pale face, making his eyes seem bluer than usual. The soft breeze ruffled his hair, and suddenly, I want to sweep those fringes away. My eyes fell down to his soft lips. Lips that once touched mine in a fleeting moment... gone as soon as it came.
I heaved a huge sigh to get myself out of my reverie and stared up at the moon instead.
"Anou, Sendoh-"
"Akira. Please call me Akira. We've been friends for a long time now," I said in a whisper.
"Akira... you said you envy me," he started, "why?"
"Because you have a good family. The kind that everyone wants to have," I simply said.
"And you don't?"
"I do. It's just that they're so far away and I miss them so much," I said. "You're lucky because you have them with you right now."
"Why am I not having the same sentiments?" he asked. "They drive me crazy. I want to be away from them. They're the main reason why I left for Kanagawa."
"True, but you love them anyway. All of them."
We fell silent again as I let him digest what I said.
"Yeah," he said in a barely audible whisper. "Yeah, I do."
"You can't fool me- or them- with those rolling eyes and snide remarks. One look in your eyes would betray what you really feel. You look at them with such pride and contentment, and even joy. I could actually picture you smiling just by looking at them," I said.
"How come you know me that much?" Kaede asked.
"I like studying you."
"Oh so now I'm a specimen."
"Iie! It's not that," I said, scratching the back of my head. "It's just that I like getting to know you."
"Oh. I see."
"There's one thing though..." I trailed off.
"What is it?" he asked, gently urging me to continue.
"Well, you know everyone's talking about you," I started. "People wonder why you are like that. Quiet, distant, aloof. They gave many theories, ya know, and you'll be really amused if you hear some of them."
"Like what?"
"Well, the others said that you have a traumatic past." I stopped to see his reaction. There was a small tug at the corner of his lips.
"I *have* a traumatic past," he said, gesturing towards the house. Nani?! Did he just say a *joke*? I laughed out loud and slapped his shoulder. He patiently waited for me to stop laughing before he told me to continue.
"We~ell, they said that maybe you came from a broken family or something," I said, feeling giddy now. "Or something significant that it affected your points of view and made you scared to reach out to others. They said that you erected barriers around yourself because you're scared of human contact, or of getting hurt. That you push people away to protect yourself."
"They said that?" Rukawa asked.
"Yeah."
"They brew up amusing stories," Kaede remarked.
"Ne, Kaede..."
"Nanda?"
"If I may ask, why *are* you like that?" I asked.
"Like what?"
"Quiet. Reserved," I replied. "You would rather hide your true feelings rather than show it. You're too silent. You don't talk too much. You don't like to mingle with people. And now, seeing your family... how cheerful and outgoing they are... made me think why you act the way you do."
He was silent for a long, long time, thinking about his answer. He was staring at the sky. Finally, he looked at me square in the eye and asked,
"You... What about you... Why are you like that?"
"Like what?"
"Happy, cheerful, out-going," he replied. "You would rather smile that say your true feelings about something. You smile too much, even if you don't mean it. But still you're very happy about things. You're optimistic about everything. Why do you act the way you do?"
My answer was short and simple. It doesn't require much thinking. "Because this is the way I am, Kaede. I won't be Sendoh Akira if I'm not what you said I am. Those things you said are the things which made me myself."
He stared at me once again with those deep, ice-blue pools and said,
"You answered your own question, then."
I gave him a warm smile when I digested his remark. He shot my own question towards me, and made me answer it myself. Now I understand him more deeply. He is not Rukawa Kaede anymore if he started to act like an altogether different person. I couldn't picute him laughing the tensai cackle, or singing the tensai song. Nor could I see him jumping about the kitchen whilst yodelling. It's just not him.
"Why are you so interested in studying or getting to know me?" he suddenly asked. I decided to give him a straight answer.
"Because I like you."
Silence.
More silence.
"Why?"
It was my turn to stare at him. He looked confused, vulnerable even. He also looked so open to persuation. I felt myself actually reaching out to him... Rukawa Kaede... I stared hard into those deep blue orbs and saw everything amidst the confusion clouding in its surface.
I started to think that maybe- just maybe, he felt the same way... though he did not know it.
"Why?" he asked again.
I gave him a warm, geniune smile and held his hand in mine.
"Because you're *you*."
And with those words, though few as it may seem, he understood me.
I knew that, because he smiled.
He. Smiled.
It was the perfect night. The air is cool, the stars are bright, the moon is full. I could have leaned over and start to kiss him, if only there wasn't a loud crash in his room, breaking our moment.
He sighed as he shook his head and stood up. I felt this incredible loss inside. I didn't even have the chance to ask him how he feels.
But it was there, right there in his outstretched hand, offering to pull me up. I accepted it. He smiled again.
For now... it was enough.
************************************************
His room was a total mess! Amazing how one seven-year-old kid could cause so much damage. I looked at Kaede and sighed out in relief when I noticed that he's not mad. Heh, he looks as though he was used to it.
His eyes scanned the room for further damages, and I saw it widen when it landed into a particular place. I followed his gaze and was pretty surprise myself when I saw Kae-chan bending remorsely over what looked like the Kaede's trophies and medals. The medals were okay, it was the trophies that were broken. Kaede mechanically walked over to the mess and just stared at the rewards of his hardwork and passion.
Then I saw the largest trophy- the trophy he got when he won the MVP award, beating me, Jin, and the other players to it- that he got just this year. It was serverly damaged. It was placed right on top. I didn't know what Kae-chan did, but the self was now overturned and the trophies and team pictures and medals were now scattered.
Kaede walked over to his most favorite trophy. This season, he worked really hard for it. He barely had anytime for anything else. He played so well. He told me once that this trophy was his favorite because it reminds him that he did something good. Something that would make his family, his friends, and his team proud of him.
It now lay on the floor. Battered. Broken.
Chills ran down my spine when Kaede gave Kae-chan the coldest stare I've ever seen.
"I- I thought the trophy was pretty so I tried to-"
"Get out." His voice was colder than the north wind itself.
"Kaede, I'm sure he didn't mean to do that," Keiko-san said from the doorway.
"I said get out."
"I didn't mean-"
"What do you mean you didn't mean to do it?" Kaede lashed. "All you ever did is to destroy everything I've got! Get out before I say things that I'm sure I wouldn't even regret."
"Kaede-"
"Shut up, Sendoh, and for once stop trying to make up for what mess that little heathen did," Kaede snapped.
Kae-chan sobbed and ran out the door. Keiko-san and Kyuichi-san walked over to the mess and silently helped Kaede pick up the remnants of the symbols of his glory.
"I'll do it, Okaasan, Otousan," Kaede simply said. With that, he brushed off the help of his parents. "Go and find where *he* is. Thanks for the help, though."
"Kaede, I'm sure he didn't mean to-"
"I'm sure he didn't," Kaede said with a hint of sarcasm in it. Keiko-san and Kyuichi-san silently walked out of the room. I walked over to where Kaede was kneeling. He was blankly staring at his MVP trophy.
"I gave my everything for this," he whispered.
I was about to say 'He's just a kid', but thought better of it. I'm sure Kaede will be mad if he hears that now. After all, he gave Kae-chan his maximum tolerance. This must have been the last straw for Kaede. Even his parents didn't try to defend Kae-chan anymore. When it comes to patience in handling the kid, nothing could beat Kaede. But for him to see his only treasures destroyed...
"Yes, Kaede, I know. I wanted that, too," I said as I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "But the trophy is just a thing. Even with a trophy or not, you still are the most valuable player."
He was silent still.
"Kaede! Your brother's lost. He's nowhere downstairs," Keiko-san said as she barged into the room. The news seemed to have waken up Kaede from his reverie. He placed the broken trophy on the floor and ran outside the door, with me close behind him.
I guess perfect evenings could swing the other way, too.
I just hope Kae-chan's okay...
**********
tsu.zu.ku
**********
Announcement:
Little maggot lost! If anyone has ever seen a black-haired, blue-eyed little devil walking around you town wearing a white shirt with teddy prints on it and blue shorts, please contact me.
Ah hell... This one's long, eh?
I hope it's not too bad... And I'm sorry if there still are typographical errors in it. I must have overlooked some... Tell me if there are, though.
Please review!
ja!
aki-chan
Blahblahblah...
A/N:
Hello, minna! I just resurrected from a long period of *slump*. Writer's block. Oral (or written?) constipation and diarrhea. Sorry for the delay. And yeah, I just re-read the previous fics and chapters I made... and realized that I have a lot of TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS around. SOOOOOO sorry for that. I'll be careful next time.
Anyway, just wanna scribble a special hello to Jam, qkslvr (Don't forget your promise! ^_^), White Meteor, Cheeky, Jasmine, Wen, Kim, Ru-chan and the author extraordinaire, MIKU...
And also, wanna say thank you to all these people whom I can't personally mail since either there are problems on their (or my) mail thingy, or because I have no way of knowing what their addies are:
Scarlet Maple, Lady Blue, ding, Shinri Ayase (Never mind you. We see each other every freakin day.), Hibiki-chan, Akira and Vero... Thanks a lot for reviewing!
Enjoy! ^_^
Oh, one more thing: I'm sorry if the third chapter's title is misleading.. *scratches head*... That was kinda my goal, you know. But don't worry. There wouldn't be any Akira Jr. One little demon is enough in this ficcie. ^_^
Last thing (I promise): I'm sorry about the Haruko-SEMPAI thing on chapter three. I was kinda disoriented when I was writing that chapter, two in the morning and all... Gomen!
DiScLAimerS: Slam dunk doesn't belong to me. Is that enough?
-----------------------------------------------
Kaede Jr.
Chapter Four: Meet the Parents
I've never had a better day than this.
This is the best day of my life.
I've got to sit down and catch my breath. After all, that *kiss* did me in. Heh, that little squirt played cupid all day long. I didn't know he had it in him. I never imagined that a seven-year-old kid could have that much mischief. I've been running since I was sure Rukawa-kun... my Kaede couldn't see me anymore. I just feel *so* happy and giddy! Oh, this swing is okay.
I've had so much fun in a few hours than I did in my whole lifetime. Spending time with *my* two Kaedes made me happier than I've ever been. I'm sooooo happy that a few moments earlier, I actually jumped high into the air and clapped my heels. I wonder what Kaede-kun (Am I becoming bolder, or what? Oh well, he couldn't hear me, anyway) would say if he saw me do that? Hn. He would probably roll his eyes at me again.
Although yeah, there were a few *ehm* minor setbacks i.e. the flower thing, the teddy bear thing (I was so damn nervous... I wanted to make a good impression, and look what happened. Baka, Akira!), and the um... crystal crash thing (totally humiliating, ugh), but all in all, it was a perfect day. Kae-chan had been very helpful today. We talked a lot about Kaede-kun. What he likes, what he does, what he hates. The little tike was the one who suggested the flower thing. Too bad it didn't work out. The flowers were very pretty. Excluding, of course, the protruding roots and soil.
One more special thing about today is that I've learned a lot more about Kaede in a few hours than all those times we were together. No one ever knew how caring that Ice Prince could be. No one but me. I know, because I've seen it myself.
I've seen it in his unconscious way of caring for his brother.
I've noticed those times he would scold his brother when the boy tripped, and called him names like little maggot, little devil, little whatever, whilst all the while dusting Kae-chan and fixing his little clothes.
I've noticed those times when he would unconsciously pat his little brother's head when the little kid won some silly game. He kinda looked so proud.
I've noticed the way he concentrated on the silly duck game so he could get Mr. Teddy for Kae-chan.
And I've noticed that pained look in his eyes when Kae-chan called me oniisan.
Although he doesn't want to admit it, he loves his brother very much. Blood is thicker than water, so they say. Kaede complains a lot about Kae-chan, but he still loves him. I know. I can feel it.
I do wonder why they have a distant relationship, though. It was as if there was a barrier between them that prevents them from reaching out to each other. Whatever that thing is, I'll help them overcome it. After all, a half-wit would notice that despite their meanness (Akira, are you inventing terms?) to each other, they actually love each other. The thing is, they don't even notice that. Two proud Rukawas. I wonder... does pride really run through their family's veins? Those two are so damn amusing. I've never seen brothers like that. So kawaii!
And what the heck... who would have thought that Kaede actually liked *teddies*? That is the discovery of a lifetime! I can't help but laugh... Ooops, there's a man looking at me in a strange way. He must have been thinking 'A spiked psycho was laughing all by himself, sitting on a swing that was way too little for him...'
Oh, who the hell cares? We all have free will.
Kaede liked teddy bears! Hah! Scoop of the century! I was pretty shocked myself when Kae-chan whispered that to me while Kaede was shooting the damn restless ducks. The Ice Prince of Shohoku... Teddy bears... It is the greatest oxymoron of the world.
But the cutest, though.
And it makes me feel *soooo* good to think that I'M the only one in Kanagawa who knows about it. I doubt he would tell anyone else. And he was pretty surprised when I presented him the kawaii teddy. Ch, don't worry, Kaede-kun... I won't tell anyone...
And I have to laugh out loud again.
These are tiny things. Little things. Little, but significant. Knowing these things about Rukawa Kaede made me fall even more for him. This time, I know I'm not in love with the mere calm and cool Ice Prince.
I'm in love with Rukawa Kaede.
Life is good.
************************************
It's been two days since that wonderful day with Kaede-kun, but I still have a hangover. The memories keep on playing in my mind. That pristine white polo shirt, that dark blue jeans, that ruggedly windblown jet-black hair...
Not to mention that I've seen him wearing only a *towel*. I almost regretted putting up that booby trap. My hormones suddenly raged. Good thing I recovered and just focused on the funny sight of Kaede covered in flour.
*Sigh*
It's been two days since I last saw him. I've been pretty busy arranging my college papers and practice. Damn, I miss him and Kae-chan! I'm sure he's pretty busy, too, what with him being the next captain and all.
*Double sigh*
Koshino-kun scolded me again today because he said I was spacing out too much. Oh well, how could I tell him that my feelings for a certain blue-eyed boy is getting stronger by the day? How can I tell him that my feelings are about to burst... that I'm no longer contented with just playing and being with Rukawa, and that I'm starting to actually wish he would reciprocate the feelings I have for him?
He would have laughed at me. After all, I am Sendoh Akira. I'm supposed to be the coolest guy in Ryonan! I'm a basketball god. Girls worshipped me. Guys idolized me. Teachers respect me. Newspaper reporters trip on their own two feet just to exchange a few words with me. I am the epitome of perfection! I could have had the prettiest girl in Kanagawa. Heck, I've had the prettiest girl in Kanagawa for my girlfriend! But I don't want anyone of those pretty girls.
I want Rukawa Kaede.
I had no idea it would hurt this much, though.
I had no idea that wanting someone so much would hurt. I didn't know. All I know is to flirt with girls, tease them, date them, and then leave them brokenhearted. No one knew that I'm such an idiot when it comes to the real thing.
I started to actually yearn for someone. Someone who's possibly so unreachable. It hurts, you know, when you want someone you know you couldn't have. He never thought of anything but basketball. If he have any thoughts on romance, then he would probably be straight. He gave no indications that he's gay, or bi, or whatever. No indications whatsoever. He's always that calm, cool Ice Prince, whose dead eyes would only come alive when he holds an orange ball.
But I love him, nonetheless.
*Triple Sigh*
I wish my family was here. I wish I could talk this out with my oneesan, or my oniisan, or even my parents. We've always been a close-knit family. At times like these, I wish they're near me, so they could help me with my problems. Nowadays, though, it seems as though everyone's so busy, with me being far from them, parents working harder than usual, and my older brother and sister busy with their respective careers.
Families shouldn't be taken for granted. I wonder what Kaede's family is like? Are they so quiet like him? Are they nice? Are they stiff and formal? After all, they're pretty rich. What kind of people are his parents?
I suddenly want to know.
I could picture Kaede's parents as one of those people who probably had afternoon tea while conversing politics or the stock market or something. They would probably be the corporate-looking type. Tuxedoes, shined leather boots, and a pipe for the father. Red gowns, manicured fingers, carefully styled hair for the mother.
*Four sighs*
Maybe I should do something other than stare out the window like some kid who's waiting for someone. Or a dog who's waiting for his master. Whatever.
*Ring!*
Now who could be calling me? Koshino, maybe? What does he want? Is he gonna berate me for moping inside the house on a bright Sunday afternoon?
*Ring!* *Ring!*
"Alright! I'm coming!" I shouted. Baka Akira. Do you actually think the person could hear that? Oh well. "Hello?"
"May please speak with Sendoh Akira, please?" said a *very* familiar voice.
"Speaking. Who's this?"
"It's Rukawa."
My heart leaped to my throat. My heart started to pound. I had the sudden impulse to *squeal*. This is RUKAWA we're talking about. And he's on the other line! He knows what my number is! He knows! He called!
"Sendoh? Are you there?"
"Ah, hai! *sweatdrop* I just uh... thought I saw a mouse." Lame excuse, you moron! The object of your affections is on the other end of the line and you act like a pathetic dweeb?
"Do'aho."
"Ehehehe... Ne, Rukawa-kun, what made you call?" I asked. Now that was suave. Cool one, Akira. And what is that I'm hearing on the background? Are those plates crashing? Heh, Kae-chan's at it again, eh?
"The little exterminator who's currently redecorating my kitchen wants you here for dinner," he said in his usual monotone.
"Ne, is that an invitation, Rukawa-kun?" I asked, my hopes flaring.
"Call it as you wish," he replied.
See? He's so far away! He's so cold. What are the chances of having a *relationship* with him? None, Akira. Don't get your hopes too high.
"When would be a convenient time?" I asked, and have to make a face when I heard Rukawa shout 'Watch it!' then a loud crash following it.
"Rukawa-kun! What happened?"
"He insists on learning how to set the damn table," Rukawa replied. I stifled a laugh at his helpless and resigned tone. "Says he wants you here tonight."
"Honto? Tonight?"
"I just said that."
"Oh. Sorry. Tonight then," I said. I don't know if I would smile or not. I'd be able to see him again, yeah... but then- Ah hell. Seeing him is better than nothing. "What time?"
"Six would be fine," he said. And I heard him mutter, 'I'd have new plates by then.'
"Okay. I'll be there at six p.m. sharp!" I said.
"Oh, and my parents will be here, too. Don't know why, though. I hope you wouldn't mind," he said.
"No! Not at all! I'd love to meet them," I said and smiled. I'm geting really excited now. What time is it? Darn! It's just two! What would I do for four hours?
"I'll see you then," he said. There was another loud crash, followed by a loud, high-pitched ouch. Rukawa cursed, slammed the phone and the line went dead.
"I'll see you, too," I whispered and gently replaced the handset.
I'll see him again tonight. Though it's a wonderful experience, it also breaks my heart. Being near him, yet not being able to touch him. Talking to him, yet not being able to reach out and find out what his feelings are...
My thoughts drifted to that moment when I was singing for him. I poured my heart and soul into that song, and all he did was just stare at me with that deadpan expression. A marble statue could have had more expressions than him. I could feel my heart breaking again as I remembered it. And I could feel it mending somewhat when he finally said that I was good. Simple words, awkwardly delivered...
/Er, you have a nice voice. Good song, too./
...but it lifted my spirit. He tried, and thinking about that... I guess it was enough.
My thoughts drifted to that accidental kiss. No, I could never forget that fleeting moment, when his soft lips touched mine for the briefest seconds.. before he pulled away like he's been kissed by a demon with three horns or something. I was pretty hurt, yeah, but looking into those confused blue pools, I guess I couldn't blame him. He wasn't really used to human contact.
And besides, for the first time ever, there was some *emotion* in those cold blue pools. There was something besides *nothing*. It made me feel kinda good that at least I could evoke some emotion in him. It made me feel good that I could actually affect him, even in the littlest way.
I wonder... would he feel something for me if I showed my feelings? Or would he just *stare* at me like he did when I gave him flowers (plus my heart), or when I sang that song for him (which came from my heart). Maybe I should be bolder... try harder.
Like that kiss. It did evoke some reaction.
Or maybe something less, after all, I wouldn't want to push him away. But definitely bold.
Tensai Akira! You are such a genius.
With a renewed spirit I ran up to my room. I have to look my best tonight! Lemme see, where's that new cologne I bought? Ah, right here. Where's that new polo? That dark blue one? Here it is... Should I wear slacks, or jeans? His parents will be there, gotta make a good impression. Slacks, it is. Black, gray, white, or beige? Hmmmm... I'll go for the beige this time. Don't want to look too dark. Let me see... what about the shoes? Black leather, or brown? I'll go for the black. Should I wear a tie, or not? A tie'll look formal. I'll go get my one and only tie. I hope they won't mind the design, though. I haven't got any of those formal looking ties. Oh well, I hope they're okay with Winnie the Pooh.
That's all set! Off to the shower you go, Sendoh Akira!
***********************************************
Don't be nervous. Calm down. Take a deep breath. You look great, just calm down. All you gotta do is wait a few seconds, and when your watch says six o'clock, push the doorbell, smile your best smile and say a suave, cool greeting.
Five more minutes before six. Is my hair OK? Yep, it is.
I imagined Kaede's otousan. Tall, sleek, formal. Must have had graying hair, but still slicked back, away from the face. He must be one of those CEO's who stood tall and dangerous. He must have intelligent and scrutinizing eyes. Lemme see... what have I learned about the current events? I've been reading since this afternoon. I've also read some from the stock market and also politics section of the newspaper. I really want to have a decent conversation with him...
Three more... shit, what's this on my slacks? There, it's gone.
I imagined Kaede's okaasan. Must be one of those slim, bored-looking, ballroom dancing, elite women. The perfect elite wife for the perfect elite husband. I imagined a sophisticated woman who wears gowns and who has sleek, manicured, dainty fingers. Must be one of those women who spends half of the day on the salon just so they could have their hair styled higher than mine could ever be.
One more minute...
Kaede and Kae-chan must have been calling them 'father' and 'mother'. They grew up with nannies. Maybe that's why Kaede is so quiet, and why Kae-chan is so *energetic*. They must have both craved for paternal and maternal affection.
Ten more seconds... Do I look okay?
Yep, I look so damn handsome tonight. What with me wearing my best polo and my best slacks and my new perfume and polished leather shoes, and my tie. My hair is so carefully spiked up, so I looked cool and formal at the same time.
Five, four, three, two-
Here goes everything...
*Crash!*
"Kae-chan!" It was a female voice. It doesn't sound bored or chic.
"Okaachaaaan! It huuuuurts!" Must be Kae-chan. 'Okaachan, eh?'
"Kaede, go get the first aid kit!" Male voice. Just like Kaede's. Only, it sounds more... alive. Not at all formal and stiff.
"Do'aho." Now, now... who could have said that? ^_^
"I'm not a do'aho! I just wanna help set the table!"
"Hush now, sweetie, it'll be okay. Oniichan will go get the first aid kit for you..." His mom, maybe. 'Sweetie?'
"Here you go, you little wimp."
"Kaede! That's not a nice thing to say! Say sorry to your otouto." His mom again.
"Yare yare... He's still alive, Okaasan."
"What time will your friend come? The scallop's not done yet." It must be his dad. And scallop?! Wow...
"Ne, Kaede, I heard that he's a really handsome fellow," Kaede's mom said. It wasn't the voices of elite, formal people. They sound like they're warm, happy people.
I'm beginning to get the impression that I might have worn the wrong attire...
"He's reaaaaaaally handsome! He's the cooooooolest guy I've ever met! He looks really really really really-"
"Point taken, honey," an amused female voice said. I smiled.
"-really good. See these spikes? I got it from him! Isn't it the coolest?"
"Yes, sweetie, it's the coolest."
"And you know what, Okaachan?"
"No, what?"
"I think he likes-"
"You talk too much, squirt," Kaede interrupted. He must have done something because Kae-chan yelped.
"Ow! The big meaning pinched me!"
"Kaede..."
"Did no such thing, Okaasan."
"Did to!"
"Did not."
"Didtodidtodidto!"
"I did not."
This is getting too crazy. I pushed the doorbell. They went quiet.
"Akira-niichan!" I heard Kae-chan cry out. There were shuffling footsteps, and next thing I knew, I was face-to-face with Kaede's-
Older siblings.
I didn't know he had any. The woman's brown hair was up in a high ponytail, and she had the same blue eyes like Kaede. Only warmer. Her skin tone was just like Kaede's. She's wearing an orange sweatshirt, blue jeans, and bunny slippers. The man had on a blue shirt, brown shorts, teddy slippers, and a *pink* apron, and he looked like an older, happier version of Kaede. Same hair, same eyes, though his skin was a little bit tanned. Kae-chan was right behind them, wearing a cute white shirt with a picture of a teddy's face on the center, suspenders, and blue shorts.
"Ano... Komban wa," I greeted, feeling a little awkward. "I'm Sendoh Akira."
"You're right, Kae-chan," the woman said. "He *is* handsome."
"Cool tie," the man remarked. "I'd like to have one of those."
"Come on in, Akira-niichan!" Kae-chan chirped. Both the man and woman gave way with warm, welcoming smiles as Kae-chan pulled me in. I saw Kaede coming out of the kitchen holding a dust pan with broken pieces of the plates.
"Sendoh-" he started but stopped when he saw me. My palms suddenly began to sweat. Is something wrong with me? "What the hell are you wearing?"
"Er, I couldn't decide on what to wear so..."
We stared at each other for a long time. He was wearing a green sweatshirt and blue pants. Simple, but I've never seen him more adorable. My heart skipped a beat.
"You look good," I said.
"You too," he said. "You could pass off as one of otousan's executives, though."
I could only smile sheepishly and scratch the back of my head. "Ano, Kae- Rukawa-kun... where are your parents? I didn't see them anywhere."
"We're the parents," an amused voice behind me said. I've heard that voice earlier... that means...
"We look young, don't we?" his dad joked. My eyes could've popped out of their sockets. What is it with this family?! Parents wearing bunny and teddy slippers, one troublemaker and one walking ice block... what the-
"G-gomen!" I said as I bowed. "I didn't know. You look kinda young. I thought you were Rukawa-kun's older siblings."
"My, my. A flatterer, too," Kaede's mom said as he fondly patted my shoulder.
"I'm Rukawa Kyuichi, by the way," his dad said. "Cut the formalities and call me Kyuichi."
"Rukawa Keiko. Pleased to make an acquaintance," she said as she took my hand and shook it. "Keiko would be fine."
"Hai!" was all I can say.
"Come on in, Sendoh-kun," Keiko said as he ushered me into the kitchen. Where is Kaede? Oh, there he is, in the background. Watching the scene with amusing (?) eyes. I almost halted when the aroma of the food attacked my olfactory senses. Good was an understatement. Heavenly was more like it. I stared at the food at the table. Am I drooling? Geez, I hope not.
"I set the table!" Kae-chan declared as he beamed up at me.
"Yeah, and Kaede made us replace the plates, too," Kyuichi-san joked as he ruffled Kae-chan's hair. "Sit down, everybody! The greatest chef in Japan has finished cooking the scallop! Nyahahahaha! Sit down, Sendoh-san. Don't be shy. I am the great tensai when it comes to the kitchen..."
Man, he reminds me of a certain aka atama...
Keiko-san ushered me to a seat right next to Kaede. She winked at me which made me wonder if she knew something. No... can't be. They wouldn't allow their son to have a realationship with the same gender...
"Oi, roll up your sleeves, 'ahou. It might be stained." Kaede said in the same monotonous voice. I can't help but think that his voice was out of place in this happy family. But hey... he wants me to roll up my sleeves so my polo shirt won't be stained... he cares! He cares!
"Come on son! Be happy! You have a guest, you know," Kyuichi-san mildly scolded. Kaede nearly scoffed. Kyuichi-san shook his head. "You are a sad, sad person. Brighten up, will ya?"
"Yare," Kaede muttered.
"Let's eat!" everyone said (with the exception of Kaede, of course), as we all dug in. One bite of Kyuichi-san's scallop brought tears to my eyes.
"Ne, Kyuichi-san... It's good!" I said.
"Nyahahahaha! What do you expect from a great chef like me?" he said.
Kaede snorted.
"Ne, Sendoh-san, how did you and our Kaede meet?" Keiko-san asked, opening a conversation. "Kaede doesn't talk very much, you see. He's a very shy person, even with us."
I almost choked on my food. Shy?!
"Gotcha there. Just kidding," Keiko-san said and smiled. "What I meant was that we don't get to spend too much time with Kaede since he's so busy with schoolwork and basketball, and we're so busy with our jobs, so we don't get to talk much. He did mention that he knew someone who's great at basketball though, and considers this person his rival. I'm very sure he's talking about you, though. So, how did you meet? Knowing Kaede, he would just say 'Basketball'. I wanna hear the story."
Kaede was actually rolling his eyes! What a sight... hehehe...
"Oh, it wasn't too significant," I said. "We met at a practice game about a year ago, when he was just a freshman. We got paired up, since our skills match, and that's about it. We started playing one-on-ones before they left for the Inter High last year."
"I see," Kyuichi-san said thoughtfully. "You must be a very good player."
"He is!" Kae-chan exclaimed, not wanting to be excluded from the conversation. "And he wins everytime, too!"
"You must be very uncomfortable with those clothes," Keiko-san said. I gave her a stupid grin. "Don't tell me... you thought we were those stiff, formal, tea-drinking parents, didn't you?"
"Uh... hai."
Kyuichi-san and Keiko-san laughed. Kae-chan looked at the two laughing parents, shrugged and laughed as well. Kaede snorted again. I'm beginning to warm up to this family.
"Don't worry. I'll have comfortable clothes for you after dinner," Keiko-san said.
"No need, Keiko-san," I protested. "I'm fine." It was as though my words passed hollow ears.
"Meet my mother," Kaede said, not looking up from his food. "The overprotective general."
"Now, now, Kaede," Keiko-san warned, pretending to be hurt. But there was a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Ne, Kaede... don't you think Sendoh-san looked great tonight?"
Kaede looked at me with the corner of his eye. I held my breath and waited for his answer. He said a small 'yeah' and ate his food again.
"He must be your very good friend," Kyuichi supplied. Kaede looked at me again and said a small 'yeah'.
"You two spend a lot of time together, ne?" Keiko-san asked.
"Yeah."
"And do you hang out together and do something besides *basketball*?" Kyuichi-san asked.
"Yeah."
"Like-?" Keiko-san prodded.
"Er, we sometimes eat together when our sessions ended too late," I supplied. I caught Kaede looking at me again before he looked away.
"That's good," Kyuichi-san said. "Ne, Sendoh-san, we leave it to you to help our son improve his social life!"
"I don't need a social life," Kaede said.
"Sure, honey," Keiko-san said with a smile. She looked at my now empty plate and took it and dumped some more food in it. "Gotta eat some more, Sendoh-san. Athletes need lots of energy supplements."
"Uh... hai!"
"Ne, Okaachan, what does so-cial life and e-ner-gy sup... sup-"
"Supplement," I volunteered.
"Arigatou, Akira-niichan!" Kae-chan said. "What does that mean?"
"Nothing that could be understood by that puny brain of yours," Kaede muttered.
"That's another strike, Kaede," Kyuichi-san warned. Kaede gave out a small whistle and continued to eat whilst Keiko-san supplied the definition of the terms for Kae-chan.
Comfortable silence wrapped around us afterwards. It gave me some time to look at each of them and smile to myself. They're all good people. This is a good family. Warm, loving parents, and perfect, adorable children. I looked at Kaede at the corner of my eye and smiled even more. He looks like he's so annoyed with everyone, but I can see the faint amusement in his eyes whenever his parents made a joke about something, or even when he looks at his family. He may not know or realize it, though. Probably, right now, he's thinking of how embarrasing his parents are. He's probably chanting do'aho and stupid and moron over and over again, but I can't miss that fond look in his eyes. Amazing how a quiet man could belong to such a bright and cheerful family.
The thing is, even though Kaede is the odd-man of the family, he never looked out of place. He really *belonged* here. I doubt he knew that, too. He must have been thinking that all he wanted in life is to get away from this crazy bunch and live alone. But I can't miss the contented look in his eyes whenever he watches his family.
With Kaede, words and direct actions are not important. It was what he felt that matters.
Heaven help me... I'm falling in love with him even more. Right here. At his own dining table.
"Eat more! Eat more!" Kyuichi said as he dumped more food into our plates.
Yeah... life is good.
*************************************************
"Man, I've never eaten this much before!" I said as I plopped down the grass beside Kaede. He was sitting there, knees folded and arms draped carelessly over it while he was looking at the moon. His parents suggested that we go out and get some air while they clean up the kitchen. That is, after Keiko-san dumped a white shirt and blue shorts and rubber shoes in my arms and commanded me to change.
"I'll give you two hours before you take that back," Kaede said non-chalantly. "He could have placed muriatic acid in those stuff."
"You're too hard on your dad," I said. He shrugged. "Ne, Rukawa-kun... can I call you Kaede?"
I saw him stiffen for the briefest moment before shrugging. "Suit yourself. Doesn't make any difference."
It does, my Kaede... it does.
Silence.
"Your dad reminds me of Sakuragi-kun," I said. He rolled his eyes.
"And you ask me why I don't like that ahou very much," he said. I laughed.
"Come on, now, Kaede, you've got a cool dad!" I said. He remained silent. "I envy you," I said after another period of silence. He turned his head to look at me and for a moment, my breath got stuck somewhere in my esophagus.
Moonlight shone down on his pale, pale face, making his eyes seem bluer than usual. The soft breeze ruffled his hair, and suddenly, I want to sweep those fringes away. My eyes fell down to his soft lips. Lips that once touched mine in a fleeting moment... gone as soon as it came.
I heaved a huge sigh to get myself out of my reverie and stared up at the moon instead.
"Anou, Sendoh-"
"Akira. Please call me Akira. We've been friends for a long time now," I said in a whisper.
"Akira... you said you envy me," he started, "why?"
"Because you have a good family. The kind that everyone wants to have," I simply said.
"And you don't?"
"I do. It's just that they're so far away and I miss them so much," I said. "You're lucky because you have them with you right now."
"Why am I not having the same sentiments?" he asked. "They drive me crazy. I want to be away from them. They're the main reason why I left for Kanagawa."
"True, but you love them anyway. All of them."
We fell silent again as I let him digest what I said.
"Yeah," he said in a barely audible whisper. "Yeah, I do."
"You can't fool me- or them- with those rolling eyes and snide remarks. One look in your eyes would betray what you really feel. You look at them with such pride and contentment, and even joy. I could actually picture you smiling just by looking at them," I said.
"How come you know me that much?" Kaede asked.
"I like studying you."
"Oh so now I'm a specimen."
"Iie! It's not that," I said, scratching the back of my head. "It's just that I like getting to know you."
"Oh. I see."
"There's one thing though..." I trailed off.
"What is it?" he asked, gently urging me to continue.
"Well, you know everyone's talking about you," I started. "People wonder why you are like that. Quiet, distant, aloof. They gave many theories, ya know, and you'll be really amused if you hear some of them."
"Like what?"
"Well, the others said that you have a traumatic past." I stopped to see his reaction. There was a small tug at the corner of his lips.
"I *have* a traumatic past," he said, gesturing towards the house. Nani?! Did he just say a *joke*? I laughed out loud and slapped his shoulder. He patiently waited for me to stop laughing before he told me to continue.
"We~ell, they said that maybe you came from a broken family or something," I said, feeling giddy now. "Or something significant that it affected your points of view and made you scared to reach out to others. They said that you erected barriers around yourself because you're scared of human contact, or of getting hurt. That you push people away to protect yourself."
"They said that?" Rukawa asked.
"Yeah."
"They brew up amusing stories," Kaede remarked.
"Ne, Kaede..."
"Nanda?"
"If I may ask, why *are* you like that?" I asked.
"Like what?"
"Quiet. Reserved," I replied. "You would rather hide your true feelings rather than show it. You're too silent. You don't talk too much. You don't like to mingle with people. And now, seeing your family... how cheerful and outgoing they are... made me think why you act the way you do."
He was silent for a long, long time, thinking about his answer. He was staring at the sky. Finally, he looked at me square in the eye and asked,
"You... What about you... Why are you like that?"
"Like what?"
"Happy, cheerful, out-going," he replied. "You would rather smile that say your true feelings about something. You smile too much, even if you don't mean it. But still you're very happy about things. You're optimistic about everything. Why do you act the way you do?"
My answer was short and simple. It doesn't require much thinking. "Because this is the way I am, Kaede. I won't be Sendoh Akira if I'm not what you said I am. Those things you said are the things which made me myself."
He stared at me once again with those deep, ice-blue pools and said,
"You answered your own question, then."
I gave him a warm smile when I digested his remark. He shot my own question towards me, and made me answer it myself. Now I understand him more deeply. He is not Rukawa Kaede anymore if he started to act like an altogether different person. I couldn't picute him laughing the tensai cackle, or singing the tensai song. Nor could I see him jumping about the kitchen whilst yodelling. It's just not him.
"Why are you so interested in studying or getting to know me?" he suddenly asked. I decided to give him a straight answer.
"Because I like you."
Silence.
More silence.
"Why?"
It was my turn to stare at him. He looked confused, vulnerable even. He also looked so open to persuation. I felt myself actually reaching out to him... Rukawa Kaede... I stared hard into those deep blue orbs and saw everything amidst the confusion clouding in its surface.
I started to think that maybe- just maybe, he felt the same way... though he did not know it.
"Why?" he asked again.
I gave him a warm, geniune smile and held his hand in mine.
"Because you're *you*."
And with those words, though few as it may seem, he understood me.
I knew that, because he smiled.
He. Smiled.
It was the perfect night. The air is cool, the stars are bright, the moon is full. I could have leaned over and start to kiss him, if only there wasn't a loud crash in his room, breaking our moment.
He sighed as he shook his head and stood up. I felt this incredible loss inside. I didn't even have the chance to ask him how he feels.
But it was there, right there in his outstretched hand, offering to pull me up. I accepted it. He smiled again.
For now... it was enough.
************************************************
His room was a total mess! Amazing how one seven-year-old kid could cause so much damage. I looked at Kaede and sighed out in relief when I noticed that he's not mad. Heh, he looks as though he was used to it.
His eyes scanned the room for further damages, and I saw it widen when it landed into a particular place. I followed his gaze and was pretty surprise myself when I saw Kae-chan bending remorsely over what looked like the Kaede's trophies and medals. The medals were okay, it was the trophies that were broken. Kaede mechanically walked over to the mess and just stared at the rewards of his hardwork and passion.
Then I saw the largest trophy- the trophy he got when he won the MVP award, beating me, Jin, and the other players to it- that he got just this year. It was serverly damaged. It was placed right on top. I didn't know what Kae-chan did, but the self was now overturned and the trophies and team pictures and medals were now scattered.
Kaede walked over to his most favorite trophy. This season, he worked really hard for it. He barely had anytime for anything else. He played so well. He told me once that this trophy was his favorite because it reminds him that he did something good. Something that would make his family, his friends, and his team proud of him.
It now lay on the floor. Battered. Broken.
Chills ran down my spine when Kaede gave Kae-chan the coldest stare I've ever seen.
"I- I thought the trophy was pretty so I tried to-"
"Get out." His voice was colder than the north wind itself.
"Kaede, I'm sure he didn't mean to do that," Keiko-san said from the doorway.
"I said get out."
"I didn't mean-"
"What do you mean you didn't mean to do it?" Kaede lashed. "All you ever did is to destroy everything I've got! Get out before I say things that I'm sure I wouldn't even regret."
"Kaede-"
"Shut up, Sendoh, and for once stop trying to make up for what mess that little heathen did," Kaede snapped.
Kae-chan sobbed and ran out the door. Keiko-san and Kyuichi-san walked over to the mess and silently helped Kaede pick up the remnants of the symbols of his glory.
"I'll do it, Okaasan, Otousan," Kaede simply said. With that, he brushed off the help of his parents. "Go and find where *he* is. Thanks for the help, though."
"Kaede, I'm sure he didn't mean to-"
"I'm sure he didn't," Kaede said with a hint of sarcasm in it. Keiko-san and Kyuichi-san silently walked out of the room. I walked over to where Kaede was kneeling. He was blankly staring at his MVP trophy.
"I gave my everything for this," he whispered.
I was about to say 'He's just a kid', but thought better of it. I'm sure Kaede will be mad if he hears that now. After all, he gave Kae-chan his maximum tolerance. This must have been the last straw for Kaede. Even his parents didn't try to defend Kae-chan anymore. When it comes to patience in handling the kid, nothing could beat Kaede. But for him to see his only treasures destroyed...
"Yes, Kaede, I know. I wanted that, too," I said as I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "But the trophy is just a thing. Even with a trophy or not, you still are the most valuable player."
He was silent still.
"Kaede! Your brother's lost. He's nowhere downstairs," Keiko-san said as she barged into the room. The news seemed to have waken up Kaede from his reverie. He placed the broken trophy on the floor and ran outside the door, with me close behind him.
I guess perfect evenings could swing the other way, too.
I just hope Kae-chan's okay...
**********
tsu.zu.ku
**********
Announcement:
Little maggot lost! If anyone has ever seen a black-haired, blue-eyed little devil walking around you town wearing a white shirt with teddy prints on it and blue shorts, please contact me.
Ah hell... This one's long, eh?
I hope it's not too bad... And I'm sorry if there still are typographical errors in it. I must have overlooked some... Tell me if there are, though.
Please review!
ja!
aki-chan