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: Finally I was able to finish chapter ten. After making some angst one-shots I've got the perfect idea for this so I typed it already…and the other upcoming senru multi-chaptered is still untitled so I can't post it yet…sorry I'm still thinking of a perfect one. Well I won't hold you back any longer…here's chapter ten after such a long period of not uploading this chapter…

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

Summary of Chapter Ten: Sakuragi's thoughts for his desired plan, secrets revealed and so is the plan. Koshino watching ever so closely for the safety of Sendoh and Rukawa didn't know he was the very first target and he founds himself in trouble. And Koshino's thoughts about the truth and Youhei's…find out.

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Never too Late

By: KaedeRukawa_kill

Chapter Ten-In Trouble

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**start**

--Sakuragi's POV--

It's been a week,

Since peace was spread.

Silence surrounding the empty space,

Solitude walking round every corner.

But thoughts were scattered everywhere,

Confusion and anger filling my mind.

Nobody is listening,

Leaving me behind the crowd.

I was bleeding badly,

But still no one came to help.

Left alone and hurt,

You were first to see.

Looking around, I opened the small wooden box I've been keeping under a secret door under the ground together with other object of much importance to me.

It's been awhile since I took off this gun, my dad's very own. Nobody really knew him much except for my mother and of course me.

My dad was a great guy, everything you can ever ask for. He had this gun when he avenged my mother's death, stupid crazy people. Now both of them are long gone, my mom was murdered and my dad never took it nicely. Hated the mere fact that he lost his wife and then lost his insanity murdering the killers and soon even himself. Forgetting the fact that he had a son.

Shaking all the bad thoughts away and the good old memories, I started searching for some bullets; I took three for the assassination of my greatest rival in basketball and even in my love life. And maybe for those who gets in my way.

Since before I've been dreaming of a mysterious man with black hair but never showed his face, and a tall height too yet smaller than me but recently the dreams were filled with faces of my bestfriend, Youhei Mito. Could it be that I made a mistake? No, never…surely Rukawa was the one I've fall for, destined for me.

The perfect time has come…I believe I'm sorry for you, Koshino. You betrayed the only person that could help you with your problems. You told him. You warned Sendoh Akira.

Closing the secret door and securely hiding any tracks, I slipped the bullets ready to shoot any minute now.

Taking my car keys, my lips curved into a successful smile.

Another of your stupid one-on-one and get along games, of course I'll see you too Koshino. Watching so very closely for any signs of danger, me. Lets set a little trap for you.

Humming softly I drove towards the park, where I first felt my heart broke with longing and jealousy at you closeness. But today everything will change. [A/N: Haay…if only you knew…life would be a lot more easier and better…pity…^o^]

Parking far to be unnoticed, I went down and walked ever so slowly. Nothing can ever escape me; I'm not in a hurry. Time will only count for your end.

Three…

Two…

One…

Here I go…you can run but you can never hide!

--Koshino's POV--

Eyeing each single corner,

Hiding to be unnoticed.

I watched ever so closely,

Two people whose lives are in grave danger.

Unknowingly they laughed heartily,

Concealed to the public eyes.

And emotionless to what comes in their way,

Still waiting patiently all together.

A week has passed,

And nothing happened.

But you can never know,

What destiny awaits our lives.

Silently I looked closely for anything mysterious, something unfit in such a perfect picture or rather someone who will break them apart.

Sakuragi, I pity your selfish acts. Yet I want to slap you right in the face, how stupid you are. Love is in front of you yet you kept ignoring it, pushing it away.

You never knew the truth between the words I've heard from him. You don't know how much pain he experiences because of your unlawful acts.

You don't even know how blind you are to see that Rukawa was never meant for you or you for him. And Rukawa knew that, while you kept walking blindly.

I thought you've felt lots of experience with love and how to deal with it but why. Why are you acting in this way?

You lost your pride, you lost yourself and you might even lose the one you truly love. Rukawa was just a hole, and you don't know how much people you've come to hurt. Sendoh and even me.

Wake up!

Learn from the mistakes you committed but then again how? When your mind, heart and soul are closed of the truth, never believing what is now right in front of you. Searching for what you can never find, never contented on what's with you.

I treasure everything and that makes all the difference between you and me. And that's why I learned to let go, and will learn again to love even if it will take me years to forget the truth I've felt for Sendoh Akira.

I envy you because you have Youhei, it's just that you don't see him the way other people see you both. You see him as your bestfriend and that's that.

Your only making things worst than it ever was. How about Youhei?

"Koshino," I heard a familiar low voice.

Oh shit! He's here.

Why me?

"Sakuragi," I replied turning back.

He smirked, stepping out of the shadows he was hiding on.

"Looking for me aren't you," He stated rather than asked.

"What are you doing here?" I asked calmly.

"Haven't you figured Koshino?" He asked.

I looked at him straight in the eyes never faltering.

He whispered in my ear, "I'm here for you."

Sweat trickled down my forehead as I stepped back, far from him.

He smiled and said, "betrayer! You can run but you can never hide!"

"Sakuragi, you're insane. Why won't you let go? Rukawa doesn't love you and he will never will because you were never meant to be," I stated calmly despite the fast beating of my heart and my mind panicking continuously.

But never will I give in.

"Shut up, Koshino. You're just making your life shorter," he said coldly.

"To hell with you," I said.

"Just one shot and you'll be gone forever," Sakuragi said.

I hope I'm doing the right thing.

"How could you betray me when I'm the only person who could help you?" he asked, gun now raised directly in my forehead.

"Because despite the pain and sorrow I feel, I learned to overcome it and let Sendoh Akira go. To see him happy, will and always will be my happiness," I said.

He laughed and replied, "touching but I would never believe such a story."

"Funny for you, then why won't you ask Youhei, your bestfriend. You don't even care about him," I stated.

And I knew I got him there when I saw his brows twitch into an annoyed state.

"Shut up, I had enough of you," Sakuragi said, readying himself to pull the trigger.

I closed my eyes to the world I've been leaving for years. There's no escaping now.

"Chotto matte, what are you doing here. Stop that!" I heard a familiar voice.

I heard Sakuragi laughing and said, "and he falls for my trap."

^BaNg^

And I felt like the world would disappear as I felt an agonizing pain.

~T.b.C.

A/N: How do you like it? Do hope you review the tenth chapter. The finale is soon to come. People of the world do you like Koshino or Youhei to die? Both, none, just Koshino, just Youhei. Review and tell me it will be directly sent to my email account. Sankyuu…ja

Next Chapter: The mysterious voice is revealed, three gun shots are heard. Is Koshino gonna die? Find out on Chapter Eleven: Trapped…