Chapter Nine: There Is No Catch

After almost thirty minutes of run-in with the sports store's security and my saying again and again that no, I did not intend to steal the socks and yes, I genuinely forgot to pay for them and no, my intention was not malicious, I finally got off the hook and am allowed to go. By now I'm so irritated and tired that I don't even care if they decide to lock me up in prison for a shoplifting I didn't even think of committing. At least I'd get rest time in jail.

"Be more careful next time!" one of the guards shout after me as I make my way home. His caution is definitely unnecessary, as, no matter what, I'm never going to have another dream like the one I had last night ever again. No matter what.

Just then, the last person I want to see in the entire world runs up to me and taps me on the shoulder. I flinch slightly, but he doesn't seem to notice.

"Hey. Did you really forget to pay for the socks?"

"God-freaking-dammit, yes!" I yell. I have enough of this 'did you take it did you not did you really forget' crap. I have been through it for thirty minutes and I'm tired, irritated and annoyed. All I want to do now is to go home, take a shower, lie on my bed and fall asleep. I don't even care about dreaming right now, because I'm not going to dream about Mitsui ever again, no matter what. And for some reason he simply has to come up to me while I'm pissed beyond reason and irritated me all over again. For heaven's sake, I wouldn't ask this idiot to kiss me even if he were the last person alive in the world.

"Whoa, whoa, chill out," he says, holding up his hands as though defending himself from my wrath. "Sorry. I didn't mean to make you mad."

"Then get away from me," I snap. I quicken my pace, cutting through lanes and roads and weaving through the crowds of people that are walking by, shaking Mitsui off and leaving him behind. I half-expect him to catch up with me but when I turn around to check, he's gone.

*****

My mother is drinking beer when I reach home. Sitting on one of the old sofas, leaning against the soft cushion with a can of beer held up to her lips. I do a quick beer count. Surprisingly, this seems to be her second.

"How was work, Kaede?"

Surprise number two. She hardly realises that I'm home, let alone that I'm home from work. Normally, I'd be home from work and she would ask, "How was school, Kaede?" Or even better, "Were you in the toilet just now, Kaede?"

"Fine," I answer.

"Did you get your new pair of socks?"

Surprise number three. She never remembers anything that happens in the house, let alone something as mundane as my socks dropping out of the window.

"Yeah," I reply.

Something is going on. It's obvious. First, she's drank only two cans of beer thus far. I know this, because she always leave empty beer cans lying around on the floor, waiting -- or rather, expecting -- for me to pick them up, assuming that I give enough of a shit to do so (I usually don't). Second, she noticed that I came home from work. Third, she remembered my socks.

What's going on?

I don't really want to ask but curiosity got the better of me. I place my rear end on one of the chairs littered around and drop my new purchase to the floor.

"Hey Mom, is anything going on?" I ask, discarding subtlety and opting for being direct.

It takes a while for her to answer. It takes a while too for her to look at me for the first time since I got home. And when she does, she looks different, as if she'd gone for a make-over that has changed her completely.

"Actually, yes," she answers. "Though I don't know if I should tell you."

Now curiosity is killing me. "Tell me. I want to know."

"Well," she says slowly, purposely dragging out the time between now and later. "Well, I got a job."

"Oh," I say. Then, the implication of her words fully sink in.

"Oh!" I say again, with more life this time. "Seriously? You got a job? Where? How? When?"

"Hold the questions!" she laughs. "You're even more excited than I am over this. Well I got a teaching job at the local college of art. The pay is pretty good, enough to cover us both without you having to work. I know how difficult it is for you to wake up at 7 a.m. every Saturdays and Sundays and you're almost always late for work anyway. Don't protest, you know it's true, you sleep like a log. Anyway, I went for a job interview yesterday after deciding to get my act together and they gave me the job right away."

"Just like that?" I ask, unable to believe what she's saying. The magnitude of her announcement is so great that I'm completely overwhelmed. This may mean a new life for us both, one without alcoholism, estranged relations and perpetual coldness under the same roof.

"Just like that," she confirms with a smile.

Still unable to digest everything, I ask again, "What's the catch?"

She looks surprised. "Kaede, there is no catch. Don't you get it? I got a job as a teacher and it's working out. For once in my life after the divorce I feel like I'm heading somewhere. Aren't you happy for me? For us?"

"Yeah, I am," I manage to say.

I am happy for my mother. In fact, I'm ecstatic. But, call me jaded if you must, I can't help but feel that somewhere in this seemingly seamless new turn of events, something is bound to go wrong. For all my life, things has never failed to go wrong. Why should this be any different?

"You're worried, aren't you," she states finally. "You're worried that something may go wrong."

I start to deny it, but then, what the heck. Might as well vanquish the demon in its cave.

I nod. I'm not looking at my mother, but she comes over to my side and bends down in front of me. She takes my hands and envelopes them securely in hers.

"Kaede, look at me," she implores. I look at her. "Am I drunk?"

I shake my head.

"I'm sober as I talk to you," she continues. "This is for real. I have this incredible chance to turn things around, and I'm not letting it get away. Trust me, Kaede. Things will be different."

I want to believe her. More than anything, I want to trust her. She's my mother. Who else can I trust if I can't trust her?

The answer seems to be no one, just like Mitsui has said. Trust no one.

Still, the rekindled spark in her eyes hint at a new beginning, at a welcomed change that isn't intangible.

Because it's looking right at me.

*****

My mother is an artist. She paints, she sketches, she draws, she sculpts. She knows the distinct difference between 'film' and 'movie'. She excels in even theatre and dance. But she's an artist at heart, and she used to paint beautiful pictures of sunrise and sunset, of rivers and lakes, of people and animals, of anything and everything when we were still a family with that paternal figure called Dad. For whatever reason, she stopped doing art the day 'Dad' packed up and left without a second glance.

So I suppose I'm at a pivotal point of my teenage years where things could either improve or remain stagnant. If I look it it this way, I suppose, for my mother and I, there is nothing for us to lose.

*****

When I'm up for school my mother has already left the apartment. I find a note stuck on the refrigerator that says, "Kaede, breakfast is inside. Or get your own. See you tonight. Love, Mom."

I open the fridge. Ooh, corn flakes! I hate corn flakes.

Nevertheless, I take out the bowl of dried wheat which has turned into a soggy mess and choke the entire thing down, not leaving even a drop of milk behind.

*****

Riding to school I fell asleep again, but luckily for me, I didn't crash into anything catastrophic. It was only Sakuragi that I banged into.

"Baka kitsune!" he yelled after me as I nonchalantly pedalled away without a backward glance. It was his fault for not looking at where he was going.

Main Agenda For Today: Avoid Mitsui Hisashi at all costs. That is, until basketball practice. Even then, don't speak to him. Don't look at him. Don't pass the ball to him. Just ignore him and get on with life.

Seriously, if I were Sigmund Freud, I'd be analysing all sorts of rubbish into my disturbing dream right now. I suppose it's something that would keep dream analysts busy in their offices (do they work in offices? Do I care?) for days to come. I mean, the kiss has to be quite significant, considering it came after I spilled my guts to Mitsui, even though I can't really remember what I said.

Doesn't matter though. It was just a dream. That's all. Last night's sleep was rather peaceful, besides being chased by screaming girls all over school and being trapped in the gym with no means of escape, so I think that it was just a one-time thing. Nothing more.

Sitting in class waiting for the teacher to arrive. I'm having Mathematics. I'm bored. I'm sleepy. This sucks.

"...study for the test?"

"Yeah. I heard it's a total killer."

"What is it on?"

"Differentiation. The whole thing. Including trigonometry functions and such. Didn't you listen to Nozuri-sensei last week?"

"Well, no..."

I sigh. Who would listen to that dough-faced joke of a Maths teacher? Listening to him makes my IQ drop about fifty points. Which is why I didn't know about the test.

Ah well. Differentiation is a piece of cake. Used to be 'Dad's favourite topic. Couldn't stop telling me about it when I was a kid of eleven or twelve, even though I was more interested in playing basketball and watching the NBA. He had some twisted notion that 'his' Rukawa Kaede were a genius and were able to absorb information that were absolutely useless to him back then. I knew differentiation at age 12. I knew more than half of my Physics text at age 13. And languages, I speak them fluently.

'Dad' is an absolute psycho. I'm just thankful for my memory. Everything to him had some kind of insane 'learning purpose' behind them. Like that trip to France. It was to 'strengthen Kaede's command of the French language and to widen his appreciation of French culture.' He never let me do anything for the fun of it. Not even basketball.

What was it that he said about basketball? Oh, yeah. "Basketball is good for you, Kaede. It helps you keep fit. Yes, it's a good sport. You should keep yourself healthy."

He spewed that bullshit to a boy of six. I didn't play basketball for health benefits. I did it because it looked like fun. And I'm doing it because I love it.

If there was one thing that 'Dad' did right, it was to encourage me to play, although his reason at that time actually disqualifies it. Everything else was redundant. Pure, utter crap.

And the day he left...well, who cares? It's over.

*****

Test is over. I can probably ace it. Although why I bother, I don't know.

Oh yeah. I want to stay on the team. Right.

Man Kaede, you're being such a good boy! It's so sickening. When was the last time you actually handed up a completed test answer script? Like, two years ago?

Things are changing. Definitely changing.

Anyway, I'm walking towards the cafeteria, hands jammed in pockets, trying to keep my eyes open. I wonder what inspired Mom to clean up her act. It sure did take her long enough to do so. Oh well. At least I get to sleep in during the weekends now.

"Rukawa!"

It's a male voice so I turn around. Terrible, terrible mistake. It's Mitsui.

"TURN AND RUN!!!!! NOW!!!!!"

That's my brains screaming at me.

"Um...um...!!!!!"

That's my body being a 'deer-in-the-headlights' idiot.

Strangely, he isn't smiling, the way he does around people he knows. He nods at me curtly. He doesn't look more please than I feel that he has to talk to me.

"Practice is cancelled for today. Tell the other Year Ones. But be back on Saturday for intensive training."

I barely have time to nod, let alone ask why, before he brushes by and walks off, not giving me even a backward glance.

So. He's giving me the cold shoulder. Just as well; makes life easier.

But...what did I do?

*****

I can't believe I'm doing this. Ice is melting around the world, especially in the North pole, and if ice continues to melt, the world would be flooded and we don't want that. And ice is essential for living, because without ice, the world will become over-heated...

Argh. Stop rambling. Just do this and get it over with.

I scan the crowded cafeteria for the familiar blue-black hair and spot him sitting at a table by the windows with his gangster friends, the ones I beat up that time at the rooftop sometime back. I walk over to them and tap Mitsui on the shoulder.

"Oi."

He turns, looks at me, and his smile immediately leaves his face.

"What do you want?" he says, looking as if he'd just tasted something sour and can't wash it out of his mouth.

I glance at his friends, who're looking at me with perplexity stamped clearly on their faces. I jerk my head to one side, gesturing for him to speak with me privately. He looks reluctant but he gets up anyway.

"What's up?" he asks once we're away from his friends. He doesn't sound happy to be doing this.

Dropping subtlety and heading for the kill, I say, "You pissed with me?"

Mitsui frowns. Probably wondering if I hurt my head on the way to school.

"What is it to you?"

I purse my lips. He really can afford to make this easier for me, the idiot. What does he want me to do, get down on my knees and beg with him to talk to me the way he used to? And when he asks why, what do I say? Because I'm used to him being around and it's weird when he's not? And when he asks why again, will he be satisfied with 'I don't know'? Because I really don't know why. Why do I care if he's mad? Why do I care if he doesn't want to talk to me? Why do I care at all? I haven't the slightest clue.

"Just wondering." Not the best answer, but he'd have to do with that.

He eyes me suspiciously. "Did somebody put you up to this? Is this a dare or something? Is Sakuragi waiting somewhere behind, getting ready to jump out and laugh his stupid obnoxious laughter anytime? Is this a joke?"

God, he's impossible. I just swallowed my pride and asked him if he's angry at me and that's the way he deals with it? This isn't worth it. At all.

"No. I'm serious."

I hate myself. Initial plan was to glare at him and stalk off. Guess it didn't work.

"Really," I add as an incentive when he doesn't answer.

Okay Kaede, shut up now. It's his turn to talk. You said three words and now he has to say four. It's how it works. Calm down, stop holding your breath and just relax. And wait for the bloody idiot to talk.

What the hell? Why is he looking at me like that? He is grinning all of a sudden. Do'ahou...

"I get it," he finally says. There is a funny glint in his eyes. "I know why you're doing this."

"Why?" I ask warily, not wanting to know but not being able to restrain from asking either.

"Because," he announces grandly, "you're in love with me and you can't take that I'm ignoring you." He grins triumphantly.

I narrow my eyes. "Nani? I'm not in love with you, stupid egoistic jerk."

But you did dream about kissing him, a voice in my head taunts.

Yeah, but that's a one-time thing, I retort. Go to hell and never come back.

"Ah, this is the Rukawa we all know and love. Pretty sharp with your tongue, ain't ya?" He shakes his head.

Call me slow, if you must. In fact, call me stupid. Retarded. Whatever. It was only when I started to retort that I realised Mitsui is being his usual self again. Around me. He's joking with me, taking digs at my cold-as-ice personality.

It's almost enough to make me smile. But not quite.

"I was pissed at you," he is saying. "You were so rude to me yesterday and it pissed me off. Although I think I should've expected it but still, you could've been nicer. I mean, I was just joking and you made it sound like I was insulting your basketball skills or something. You were mental."

"I was pretty irritated," I mumble. "You know, with the questionings and all."

"Yeah, okay, I understand," he concedes. "Well, I'm not pissed anymore, if you want to know. And hell, I'm hungry, so if you don't mind..." he gestures towards his table. "I'm going to eat."

I nod silently. He gives me a thumbs-up sign and goes away.

Is there a catch to this?

Why am I even thinking that?

Kaede, you just have to understand that sometimes in life, there is no catch.

This is such a time.



THIS IS NOT A YAOI FIC. The dream was just a one-time thing. So, yeah, it's not yaoi.

sLL: LOL, I'm glad you liked the dream sequence. If this fic is a great background for a MitRu, it's definitely unintentional. I do see where you're coming from though. Whenever I write scenes between Ru and Mitchy, I keep getting the urge to make this yaoi. Haha. I may attempt a MitRu one day, who knows? =) I just saw the second episode that features Sakuragi with a shaved head. I love it!!! So much!! Mitsui is such a genius! Isn't he!

fourteen: Yeah you're right, Ru's fans will bury him in branded socks. Hmm, interesting...

qianhui: Awww you like Mitchy too! I have a Mitchy shirt and he's sooooo cute on it. =)

White Meteor: Um I thought his bike is supposed to be pink. I keep reading that his bike is pink and because I haven't finished the series, I took everyone's word for it. And sLL did say that his bike is really pink. I don't know though. And hello, who won MVP in junior high? Who missed 2 years of basketball and yet came back with a vengeance? Who is naturally talented? Even Jin's coach said that he doesn't have talent! Helloooo!! It's obvious that Mitchy's much better! Bwahahahahahahahaha!

hagane: Um, Mitsui's mine. Didn't you see what my pen name is? Hisashi Loves Yelen. Yelen = me. Not you. So nyah! =) Thanks for the reviews!

lambie: No, you weren't the first reviewer. Thanks for that comprehensive SD VCD info. I wonder if the SD movies you saw are the same ones as the DVDs I saw on ebay.com. I think the DVDs on ebay come with Chinese/English (can't remember which) subtitles... but I don't know what they're about 'cause the sellers never even say! Idiots!

unchained: I live in Bt. Batok. It's certainly a small country. Or maybe you just have a lot of friends. Haha.

Merry Christmas everybody. Some parts of this chapter don't make sense but nevermind.

-Yelen (is a genius) missy_hissy14@winningteam.com