Title: Don't Need You

Part: 1/5

Author: MicchiKo

E-mail: MicchiKo@aol.com

Genre: Yaoi, Sap, some Violence

Pairings: MitRu/RuMit

Rating: R

Archive: None yet

Notes: My attempt at a quasi-mushy MitRu/RuMit.... ^.^ Also, many many thanks to Diggler for beta reading this. haha... you have *no* idea how much she helped me w/ syntax and articulation...... .

Don't Need You

by MicchiKo

Part One

Winter's coming, Mitsui thought to himself as he looked up at the dark evening sky. He had stayed a bit later at practice that day, but even still, it was only 5:30. He hated the way the hours of daylight decreased during the cold months. With seemingly shorter days, he felt as though he could do less. Not to mention it was always nice to go to the park around 7:00 in the summer; the air cooled down by then and there was still enough light to go about normally. But now… Now there was nothing he could do about it except wait for the season to end.

He took one last glance at the school before he left. The usually bustling building looked abandoned, almost eerie. He shrugged and continued on his way. He began to think about the past month or so. Words couldn't describe how happy he was to be playing basketball again. It was almost like an addiction. When you would stop, you would feel the effects of the withdrawal -- the constant itch that needed to be satisfied. When you picked it up again, you would feel relieved, as if you were finally able to scratch that annoying itch. He thought about his knee. He was glad that the injury wasn't permanent like he thought it was. He would rather have never played basketball to begin with than to be told that he could never play again.

He turned the corner into a dark alley, taking the shortcut to his house that he used every morning and every evening. Lost in his thoughts, he couldn't possibly foresee what was to come. Suddenly, as if out of nowhere a pair of hands grabbed his collar and threw him into a wall. His back struck the brick hard, followed by his head due to the inertia. He felt his brain shake inside his skull from the impact. By instinct, he reached up to rub the back of his head, wincing as the feel of his fingers on the weak flesh stung. He brought down his hand, wondering what the moist substance was. He looked at his hand in horror as he saw it was dyed red. Looking up, he then realized that he was surrounded by five boys.

"Guess our little basketball star ain't so tough anymore." The youth who stood in the middle snickered. He walked over and once again, took Mitsui by the collar. He raised his hands up, choking the Shohoku senior, and then pinned the other boy to the wall. Mitsui cringed; he could feel the blood trickling down the back of his neck. "You may not remember us but we sure as hell remember you." The boy stated. "Do you see this?" He asked, showing his right cheek to Mitsui. Mitsui's eyes widened at the sight of the long scar that ran down the boy's face. Mitsui tried to remember where he had met the boy before but his memory failed him. "You and your little gang gave us a pretty bad beating a while ago. And now..." he said, releasing Mitsui as he reared back. "It's time we returned the favor!" He pulled back his arm and sent his fist flying, right into Mitsui's stomach. Mitsui fell to his knees from the pain. He clutched his stomach, clenching his fists as he recalled his promise to Anzai-sensei to never fight again. He rose to his feet, still somewhat stunned from the hit.

The leader of the group looked at the Point Guard and smirked. "Looks like someone's gotten soft... you're not going to hit me back?" He asked, purposefully trying to provoke the other boy.

"You're not worth my time." Mitsui spat the words. He knew it wasn't the best thing to say. Still he couldn't help but feel somewhat triumphant when he saw the furious look on the other boy's face.

The leader looked around at his fellow companions. "I think someone needs to teach our little basketball star a few manners." He suggested. The four other boys smiled maliciously and nodded in agreement. Once more, Mitsui clenched his fists. Even if he were to fight back, he knew he would not be able to take on five people. He tried in vain to brace himself for what was to come.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Rukawa yawned as he changed back into his school uniform. It had been another day of hard practice. As tired as his body told him he was, he still felt the adrenaline pumping through his veins. He would've practiced until dawn if it weren't for the school closing and the lack of light outside during the late hours. He picked up his duffel bag and left the locker room. Like always, he was the last to leave.

He walked out into the vacant street and headed home. His mind reran the events of the day. As usual, he got into petty fights with Hanamichi. That doaho, he thought to himself when reminded of the redhead. Of course, there was a time when he believed that he had felt something for the other boy. Though, the feeling was as fleeting as the thought. He eventually began to realize that what he felt was more of a fascination than actual affection. Besides, he had no place in the boy's heart anyway; it was being occupied by a certain flirty spiky-haired boy who attended Ryonan High.

He sighed. He couldn't tell why but he suddenly became anxious to get home, even though there was nothing waiting for him there. He began to feel a strange tinge of loneliness creep up on him and the deserted streets only magnified the feeling. He decided he would take a shorter route to his house and turned the corner into a dark alley.

"Not so strong anymore are we? I guess someone's become a good boy now."

Rukawa looked ahead upon hearing voices. Faintly, he could see five figures in the moonlight, their shadows clearly showing what their actions were. They seemed to be beating down on something. When his eyes followed to the center of attention, he could see the dim outline of a body on the ground. He was about to turn around and walk the other way, convincing himself that it was none of his concern.

"Are all you Shohoku basketball boys such wimps?"

Rukawa stopped dead in his tracks. Shohoku basketball? Curiosity got the better of him and he crept closer to see what was going on. The body on the floor, barely recognizable from where he stood, lay on its stomach. The clothes were covered with blood and dirt. He couldn't see the face until the boy attempted to get up. He stood with his eyes wide as he watched Mitsui prop himself up with one arm, the other arm lying limply at his side. As soon as the Point Guard managed to get up on his knees, one of the gang boys smashed his elbows down onto the back of Mitsui's neck. Rukawa involuntarily cringed as he saw the senior fall back to the ground.

"Now... we end this..." The leader of the group announced as he brought up a pipe over his head. He felt a tap on his shoulder and as soon as he turned around a clean straight punch connected with his cheek. He staggered back from the hit, dropping the pipe in the process. He looked up at the perpetrator, still dazed from the blow.

"No, we're not wimps." Rukawa stated coldly, his face still blank like always. He stepped forward and landed another hit to the boy's stomach, causing the boy to fall to the floor.

"You bastard!" One of the other gang members screamed out as he struck Rukawa across the cheek. Rukawa stumbled back a step. When he licked his lips, he tasted the salty iron flavor of blood. He narrowed his eyes and returned the favor given to him, nearly knocking the boy unconscious. The three other gang members soon joined in their companions' defense. All Mitsui could do was lie there on the ground and watch through his blood crusted eyelashes.

"Rukawa, don't..." He tried to say before everything turned hazy. He gave into the feeling and closed his eyes until his world became blank.