Pairing: Mainly SenRu, Slightly RuHana/HanaRu and SenKosh

Summary: Sendoh Akira has feelings for the Shohoku ace, Rukawa Kaede. He too feels the same way but how about Sakuragi and Koshino? A certain plan gets in the way. Is it ever too late to say 'I love you'?

A/N: Yuppie, eight chappie, actually this should have been posted ages ago however as for my stupidity I accidentally deleted this chapter. Luckily, I had a not so complete extra which would do…Youhei finally enters the story. I know a hundred of hints has been sent to Sendoh and Rukawa and yet they would not confess. They are kind of too slow, well who could blame them, they don't want to be rejected. I don't know what to say I just hope you like this chapter and please do review.

Disclaimer: I don't own Slam Dunk, Takehiko Inoue does…

Summary of Chapter Eight: After act I, the jealousy plan to separate Sendoh and Rukawa, it seems like Sakuragi lost his mind and planned another something for them which is more dangerous. Yet the two were just getting near to the goal. What is Youhei's role?

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Never too Late

By: KaedeRukawa_kill

Chapter Eight-Back to Normal?

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**start**

--Rukawa's POV--

Stars twinkling nicely above us,

Smiling and encouraging our beating hearts.

Watching closely to what events,

Like the firecrackers that came and disappeared.

A warm feeling in me surged,

Abandoning the once emotionless heart.

Leaving me in quite surprise,

Breaking strong barriers within my mind.

Yet I do not feel my hesitation,

It seems so wrong but feels too right.

And here in the silence of the night,

I only rely on the love that gave me new life.

Finally breaking apart flushed like the very first time. I heard the rustling of the wind against the nearby bushes and believe he felt it too as we tried to see what came through.

…a flash of red = do'aho

Wait…shimata!

"Come out, do'aho"

Yep, it was Sakuragi Hanamichi alright who stood immediately after hearing my call, smiling sheepishly at me.

"Er…hi Akira," the figure spoke.

Fuck!

Nice day, Kaede. The figure was none other than Koshino Hiroaki, Akira's ever so loyal bestfriend. Yep, another challenge for me.

Arggh…

"Excuse me, I'm paying the bill," I said with my famous monotonous voice, I used to people and stormed away.

"Hey…wait for me Kaede," Akira called after his mind finally registered the other two's presence.

Heading to the cashier, I handed them my credit card and left the restaurant immediately heading to my house with Akira.

Said he wasn't busy and would like to come along. So I lead him to my living room and we started to talk about stuff that never thought I'd be able to express maybe except to Akira.

~~~~

I woke up the next day breathing the scent of Akira as the sun slowly illuminated the room. [A/N: Ok to my friends, anyone who knows me by name or whatever nothing BAD happened between them during the night. This is a PG-13 and I'll maintain that 'til the end.]

Hey, how'd Akira…?

I looked around, and blushed instantly, it seems I fell asleep on Akira's lap without noticing. The fact is he's hugging me tightly like I'd wear off soon. [A/N: waaaaaaaah! Kawaii!!! Picture, picture, picture perfect!!! *drool*]

I gave a small smile and freed myself from Akira's tight grasp carefully not wanting to wake up my precious angel who was sleeping soundly.

…kirei…

As soon as I was done taking a bath I cooked breakfast and prepared the dining table making sure everything was set perfectly.

I crept towards Akira and started to wake him up. [A/N: Like this "ne, Akira wake up…" *poke* "Akira?" *poke* Mwahaha…interesting *joke* back to the story.]

"Akira…ne Akira? Ohayo…"

Almost about to give up, a pair of dark blue eyes opened, making me catch my breath and ran out of oxygen at the beauty in front of me.

"Eto…I kinda fell asleep in your lap and…woke up…um…you were hugging me tightly and…er…" I tried to explain everything.

Now we were blushing furiously at the events at hand. So I just took his hand and pulled him to our prepared meal courtesy of my cooking.

--Koshino's POV—

As the sun came into view,

Lighting up the world for a new day.

Somewhat like the moon that peaks late at night,

With beauty only seen when dark.

Wind blowing through my face,

Gentle all around my soul.

Wave playing near the land,

Pushing troubles miles away.

And when rain pours down the earth,

With matching thunder to scare some away.

Such elements that affect a human's heart,

Spreading peace and warmth.

There's no place like home, where I could stay here all day and conceal myself. Lock my feelings far away.

Should I give up?

That's making Rukawa win too easily, setting my heart, body and soul away.

*Ding dong*

Sitting up from my bed, I went to open my front gate to spot a redhead standing at the edge.

"What are you doing here?"

"Nice greeting, just came to visit you, Kosh," came the jolly response.

"Come in," I said, stepping aside and letting him enter.

Living him in the living room, I went to make some light sandwich and a juice perhaps.

"So, what is this all about?" I asked, handing him the food.

"I have another plan," he said his voice turning dead serious.

I suppressed a laugh and replied, "don't be so serious, it doesn't suit you."

~~~~

"No," I replied.

"Its not as if…"

"I said no, don't you see how obsessed you became…your plan's crazy. Someone might get involved we can't stake that," I argued.

"Demo…"

"No!"

"Fine then so be it, but if ever you change your mind just tell me. I need all the help I could get. Just don't tell them or you'll be the one in trouble," he threatened.

"Are you threatening me Sakuragi?"

"Call it whatever you want."

"You may leave my apartment now and I'm not changing my mind," I said.

Pushing him outside, I slammed the door right on his face.

What a jerk…

A sore loser…

I have my dignity, even though I love Akira, I can never commit such a sin. I may have become that desperate but not to the same extent as him.

Does he really love Rukawa?

I've got to warn them somehow without being noticed. Enemy or not, I can never take such a risk.

Sakuragi's just being unfair to himself, Rukawa and Sendoh but maybe I myself was selfish like he himself but I guess I was able to overcome it while he…

Looking out the window I saw a figure standing there with worried eyes.

Must be somebody else.

I trailed off, he seems to be familiar, I could suspect from the way his eyes look at every track Sakuragi came from.

Wait, isn't he Youhei Mito?

A friend of Sakuragi, not just a normal worried friend but his very own bestfriend.

Before he could even get too far I opened the front door.

"Hey…Youhei!!!" I shouted out.

He turned around and…

A/N:

Kae: Here's some hints on what will happen in the next chapter and maybe until the very last.

Youhei: That's it I turn around and poof the chapter's done?

Kae: Well people will be waiting for you in the next chapter with Koshino. Hm?

Sendoh: Koshino/Youhei…really?

Koshino: Baka, what are you thinking of perverted things?

Sendoh: Well maybe a little but…Kaede's the best one of all ofcourse…he has a perfect…[and he continued babbling]

Rukawa: *blushing* Enough Akira…

Kae: Back to what we were trying to say…Koshino…

Koshino: *interrupts* Why do I have to save your ass?

Kae: Because…

Aki7: You know the plan?

Kae: that's one…

Lethal_virus a.k.a. Abu_maktoots: you're a good boy?

Kae: Maybe a little…

Aki7: tough?

Kae: maybe…

Youhei: Er…don't you notice anything? *shakes Kae*

Kae: Huh? *looks around* Hey, how'd you get here? *points at Aki7 and abu_maktoots*

Rukawa: Finally she notices…lol…

Aki7: just came by to visit you pal…

Kae: Did you come here to kill me?

Abu_maktoots: Nah…

Kae: goodie…

Washu a.k.a. banal: Kaeeeee…Akiiii…abuuuu…?

Kae: If your wondering how'd I know them, they're my buddies…try to introduce more soon… you could read other senru's in XxX01…there's a senru there…