Title: Colleague

Author: Kuroi Tenshi [kuroi_22@hotmail.com]

Pairing(s): KoshSen (I realize now it's been KoshSen all this time, not SenKosh, sorry) ::waves flaglets happily:: ; SenRu [but it won't last long]; RuHana (but not that detailed)

Warnings: Shounen Ai; Uhm, words? Cursing (A lot, so be warned!)

Rating: PG-13

FICS NOTES: This one actually has something to do with the fic itself. ^^;; I'm not entirely sure how old exactly Koshino and Sendoh are in the series. Most likely 15 or sixteen? I have absolutely no idea. But let's all pretend they're sixteen, neh? Agreed? ::takes out fire poker:: Yes? Good. Thank you.

NOTES: I decided not to keep you in suspense any longer. Translation: I finally got my lazy behind to write the next installment. ::grin:: Hiroaki's leather jacket and shoes from France finally arrive, with a special surprise. Thanks to the people who left reviews, you know who you are. I love you all! Much kisses and love! ^_____________^

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Part 7

                The steady splattering of the rain against the glass window slowly calmed his wildly beating heart. Hugging the fluffy pillow to his chest as he stared outside, Koshino couldn't help but become aware of his best friend lying on his stomach, watching the taped games of Rukawa in rapt attention.

                He claimed the windowsill his when Sendoh came up with the "brilliant" idea to pass their afternoon since they weren't going to Shohoku to spend more time with his Kae-chan: watch Ru play in the privacy of Koshino's room using his pride and joy: the wide screen fit for a mini theater.

                Currently, devoted follower and secret founder of Rukawa Anonymous, Sendoh Akira was staring at the Ace, completely enthralled. Koshino was sure that the only way his friend would look away from his new god's face was if the real one walked into the room. He doubted Sendoh would give him so much as a glance if he threw himself out of his window.

                He sighed. When was he going to learn his lesson? There was a reason the unwritten law Best Friends Are Off-Limits was made. He experienced that firsthand. So why was he experiencing the unexplainable urge to use a baseball bat on his beloved TV screen?

                "Pass the chips, Kosh," the spiky-haired teen said absently, eyes still glued to the screen while his hands groped blindly for said bag of chips.

                He grunted in response, pretending to be staring outside too intently to notice. Let Sendoh pause from worshipping Rukawa to grab the bag of chips. I don't want to trouble myself any more than I already have. I've had enough.

                Slowly, he reached from inside the pillowcase and drew out a small picture. The gilded frame reflected the sliver of light that escaped from behind the dark rain clouds and Koshino stared at the familiar blue eyes and dark, almost brown, blond hair.

                Hiro.

                He glanced back outside and his own chocolate brown eyes clouded. He could still remember that day not so long ago. The sky was also weeping, perhaps with him, though the tears were lighter; it was only a slight drizzle, unlike the rain that poured from above right now.

                "Get back here, stupid!" Koshino shouted to the young man standing few feet away from him. "You're gonna die of pneumonia someday and I'm telling you, I'll make sure the last thing you hear before you depart for the next world is how I told you many times before not to stand unprotected in the rain."

                Morikawa Hiroshi grinned at his best friend. He stepped under the waiting shed they sought refuge from when the rain fell on them without warning. "I have no doubt in my mind you'll do exactly that, Hiro-kun," he replied impishly.

                "Now look at yourself! You're all wet!" Koshino exclaimed irritably as he took out his handkerchief and wiped his friend's face and tried his best to wipe his head and shoulders dry. To no avail, the half-American's hair clung to the side of his face in wet tangles. "At least we have the shed," he sighed. He looked at the rain pouring outside their small shelter.

                "Asato said yes, finally."

                He froze. "Eh?"

                "Do you mind?"

                "What do you mean? Do I mind that you're now his boyfriend?"

                "No…at least, not just that. Do you mind me being the way I am? Liking someone from the same gender…"

                Hiro's face was closer than what he could've ever wanted. He itched to caress the smooth cheeks and brush away the stray strands of blond from his forehead. Did he mind that his friend was gay? Was he a hypocrite then? "Of course not," he replied irritably. "I can't believe you even asked! I'm your best friend, Ishi-kun. You know I've always believed love is love, no matter what. You're stupid as usual."

                His friend threw his arms around him and gave him a squeeze. "You're the best!"

                He pushed him away with an exasperated sigh. "You're getting me wet!" Hiroshi stepped back, grinning sheepishly. The brown-haired boy shrugged and looked away, pretending to stare at the rain coming down upon them. It was too late.

                He had decided earlier that day he would confess to Hiroshi the real reason he got upset with him becoming close to Nishikado Asato. But it was too late now. It wasn't like he had any chance to begin with. To Hiroshi, he was just the best friend. The colleague to count on in winning the one he loved.

                The rain continued to descends from heaven, as if joining him in his sorrow.

                "It's too bad your dad had to miss Sayaka's return," Sendoh said, pulling him out of his reverie.

                Koshino looked up, deftly slipping the frame back inside the pillowcase. He shrugged. "The meeting couldn't be postponed. Besides, they saw each other last month when Dad went to France to close one deal or the other."

                "Isn't it hard when your sister lives so far away?"

                "It's really a blessing when you lived with Sayaka for more than ten years. She's worse than Reiko."

                Sendoh turned away from Rukawa's jump shot and stared at the other boy across the room. "It must be great having two sisters who always look after you. I noticed how protective Reiko is. Your sister Sayaka doesn't seem so bad."

                He was about to reply that he could say that be cause he didn't live with them when he realized Sendoh never got harassed by annoying sisters like Reiko and Sayaka because he was an only child. And his parents were also often abroad, like his father. At least he had his sisters when his father was on a business trip. "You're part of the family, you know."

                The spiky-haired boy blushed. "Kosh, you don't know how much it means…these things you do and say for me…"

                And you don't know the things you do and say to me, he replied mentally. "Can we please cut the crap and watch he game?" the brown-haired player replied, feeling his cheeks flame. He wouldn't let himself be affected with Sendoh's words! They were that: simply words.

                Sendoh smiled and nodded. He understood. He knew his best friend never handles displays of emotion well. This was Koshino's way of saying they were cool.

                The grandfather clock chimed eight times, indicating it was well past the usual time dinner was served. They kept their silent vigil waiting for Reiko's return , who picked Sayaka from the airport earlier that evening. Silence prevailed in the dimly lit den, the hush disturbed once in a while with Sendoh's low murmuring when he tried harder to memorize a line or two from the English textbook he was studying from the corner of the room where a recliner was situated. Koshino, for his part, was bent over the massive oak desk his father occupied when he wasn't locked in his study on the second floor.

                Sendoh was under the impression Koshino was concentrating on his book so he left him alone to study on his own. The frown on his friend's face, more fiercer than usual, was all the warning he needed to get the message: "interrupt and die." But in reality, it wasn't a textbook the other boy was starting at. Rather, it was a thick volume of snapshots taken two to three years before.

                Koshino stared at the beautifully chiseled features. The smooth, flawless skin of his cheeks to the clear blue orbs that was not directed to the camera as the boy was glancing to his right, where a  younger Koshino shot the camera an irritated look.

                He flipped the page and found more pictures. This time there were more people. He could see Tsujitani and the others he met again few days before standing in front of a villa in an island where they spent a week of their vacation before their final year in junior high.

                There was another one taken at the pool with Reiko and Sayaka waving to the camera while between them was Hiro with a pair of legs, without the body, sticking out from the water. Koshino smiled at the photo. He remembered that day. They were playing Reiko's insane game of "Help! Help!" and it was his misfortune he was the supposed victim while the three ganged up on him as genetically mutated sharks.

                "Ne…Sendoh…"

                The one addressed to looked up, startled. It was uncharacteristic of Koshino to talk to him when it was obvious he was studying. "Hmm, Kosh?"

                "Tell me about Katsuki. He was your best friend from junior high, right?"

                Sendoh stared at him. "Katsuki…?"

                Koshino sighed. "Yes, the one you mentioned more than once before. Your friend from junior high. The one who played basketball with you since you guys were seven. That guy who moved to Hokkaido with his mother. Katsuki."

                "You already know about him. What else do you want me to say?" Sendoh tried to joke.

                "Forget I asked," Koshino said in a bust of irritation. He bent over the volume of what he assumed an encyclopedia and resumed ignoring him.

                Ryonan's Ace stared at him. He continued to study his friend for a few more minutes before he shrugged. "Katsuki and I email each other once in a while. He stopped playing b-ball. He's more into Arts now. I showed you a picture he sketched me before, right?"

                "Were you close?"

                "We were best friends," Sendoh shrugged, silently wondering about Koshino's peculiar behavior. He knew there was something bothering him, but he wouldn't pry. Koshino had the right to keep things private if he wanted to. Though he was a bit hurt Koshino didn't seem to trust him with everything, like he did with Koshino, he would accept that. He'd tell him in due time. They were best friends after all.

                "Did you know you were already…different then?" the brunette asked hesitantly, not looking up from the pictures filled with his and Hiro's faces.

                Sendoh shrugged. "I kinda figured it out at the before I graduated junior high. He figured the same. We scouted for dates together," he grinned. "Katsuki asked this girl from our class I used to think was really pretty and I asked her fiend out. We went on a double date. Why?"

                The forward swiveled the chair to the right to face the bookshelf filled with volumes of encyclopedia. He pretended to have not heard the question. He randomly selected a thick volume and placed it on the desk in front of him. Flipping through the pages and scanning the text though not seeing them, he hummed tunelessly while he felt the weight of his friend's stare.

                "Does this have anything to do with Hiro?"

                Koshino's head whipped up and stared right into Sendoh's penetrating blue gaze. Of all times to be damn astute, why did Sendoh have to choose this moment?

                "You've been acting strange since the day we met some of your old friends and I first heard about that name. What's wrong, Kosh? You know you can trust me. Tell me."

                "And if I tell you, what do you think would happen then? It wouldn't change a thing. Telling you anything about it won't make the slightest difference," Koshino replied crossly. "What's the point?"

                "It will help me understand you better, dammit!" Sendoh exclaimed. "I'm your best fiend, Hiroaki! I told you about Rukawa, didn't I? Why can't you trust me with this?"

                Before he could open his mouth to reply, the front door opened and Reiko's voice carried throughout the otherwise silent manor. "HI-CHAN!"

                He grabbed the escape his sister unknowingly handed him. "I told you to stop calling me that, Reiko!" He walked out of the study, passing by the oak-paneled walls, his footsteps muffled by the thick dark brown carpeting. He didn't even glance at Sendoh.

                Reiko was waving and pointing to the servants where they should put the boxes and luggage one of the maids and the butler were taking in from her car outside. "Leave that box on the floor, Mutsura, I'll take that up to my room myself," she instructed the maid.

                When she saw her brother standing from the entrance of the foyer coming from the study at the left wing of the floor, she smiled. "Her Ladyship will honor us with her presence in a few minutes—she got a call from Dad."

                As Sendoh entered the front hall, the door opened wider and a tall, imposing young woman walked in, followed by the butler who was carrying with him a box that looked heavier than him; the door closed behind the man. She held up a finger in front of him and shook her head lightly. "You can finish unloading the car later. Let's all try to be comfortable first."

                The spiky-haired teen stared at her in awe. She was beauty and elegance personified as her brother embodied fury and temper. Like Reiko, her hair was of the darkest hue, but her hair was longer...at least the longest part of her hair. The ebony curtain had three layers. The shortest was her bangs and the next was at her chin, both framing her delicate features and contrasting attractively with her smooth pale complexion. The longest, and the last layer, was past her hips and swayed with each sensual move of her body. Sendoh never imagined his best friend's oldest sister to be a goddess.

                The delicate deity noticed him staring and smiled at him. "You must be Sendoh Akira. I've heard about you," she said in that sweet voice that was music to his ears.

                "Good things, I hope," Sendoh replied smoothly, flashing her his most devastating smile.

                Something flashed in the hazel brown eyes and she gave him a dainty shrug. "It would depend on whose point of view." Reiko snorted while Koshino remained silent, glaring at Sendoh's back.

                "Ah, and here comes my dear brother! Will you not give your dearest sister a hug?" She asked, turning to Hiroaki and opening her arms to him.

                The youngest, knowing better than to argue, complied and gave her a brief hug then stepped away. "Aren't you a bit early for Christmas?"

                She flashed him a serene smile. "I missed you too. But no matter," she paused, clasping her hands in delight. "I'm sure you'll love the gifts I brought for you."

                "The jacket?" he asked. He was glad to see Sayaka back with them, even if for a short while, as she tended to prefer studying abroad, but it also meant having another tormentor. And Sayaka was the worst. Though Reiko was psychotic at heart, she was at least straightforward about it. Sayaka tended to strike subtly, deceiving with her serenity and gentility.

                While Reiko was the Locally-proclaimed Witch with Evil Ways, Sayaka was the Lady with Sick Ingenuity.

                "I have your jacket," she assured him with a small dismissive wave of a hand. "But I also brought you something better. We were leaving the airport when we spotted this last gift. I'd like to call it Fate."

                "Is it edible? I'm hungry."

                Reiko snickered. "Hungry for love, brother dear?"

                He threw her a withering glare, which prompted her to burst out laughing. "This is rich. I'll have to watch this carefully and save it in my memory forever. or better yet…Matsura! Get me my digital cam—quick!"

                "What are you talking about?" He asked, growing suspicious. Not twenty-four hours after the plane landed and they managed to plot against him already?

                "My surprise gift to you!" Sayaka exclaimed, throwing open the front door and stepping aside to allow them a better view of what was outside.

                Standing outside, with his hands hooked in his faded jeans, a young man stood facing them, a huge grin on his face. The brass lamps illuminated the carefully chiseled jaw and the light highlighted the dark blond strands that seemed darker than he remembered. His skin was fairer than before. And his body built even more than in his memories. But the eyes…they were the same blue sky he often drowned himself into, spending countless seconds lost in them. Beautiful as always, even more so in reality than in faded memory…

                Koshino stared at the young man in silence. This is not happening…I'm hungry. This is an illusion caused by the brain due to lack of nourishment…this isn't real…I'm dreaming...hallucinating….I'm imagining things…I'm…dead.

Tbc

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                This was written under the strong influence of Apple-flavored Lollipops. I've developed a strong inclination to those sweet things—I'll have to see my dentist soon, I'm sure. ^_^ I just thought I'd warn you. ::grin:: Oh, and as for the usual "explanation" (but when translated: EXCUSE) why the update's late, I'm having a hard time adjusting to having to go to school again. I'm afraid I got too comfortable being totally useless for months. I have to keep reminding myself life doesn't revolve simply in bed, in front of the TV and using the PC. It's hard, I know, but I shall try. But then again you're all pretty used to that, neh? Hehe. Till next part? ^_^

                Please tell me what you think…even if it means being brutally honest and advising me to stop terrorizing innocent people with my writing. Leave your email addy so I'll know where to send the viruses. ^____^

                EXCESS: at this rate, the notes and other stuff will be as long as the fic! ^^;; Hehe. Anyway, I just feel so happy I passed the audition to enter my college's theater guild! ::jumps around cheering:: Yay! ::pats herself on the head:: Woohoo! Go, me! ^___^