Disclaimer: I don't own Slam Dunk; it's Takehiko-sensei's.

Final Chapter: Gaining Through Losing

Sakuragi descended the stairs in a rush. He was very furious.

What the hell is that Kitsune doing!? He said he'll come to meet me at the rooftop, but he didn't! I won't wait for him for an entire day! I'm gonna find him! That bastard, who the hell he think he is!?

At a corridor, Sakuragi stopped. Rukawa was walking in a hurry towards him.

"Hana-kun," he saw Sakuragi, "I'm sorry I'm late. The girls have been holding me up. I didn't manage to escape from them. They asked for souvenirs..." Rukawa pointed his uniform. The buttons of his school coat were all gone. His fans must've taken them all.

"Oh…" Sakuragi stared at Rukawa's uniform. Damn! I wanted those buttons too!

"So, what is it?" Rukawa put his hands in his pockets.

"Ah? Oh…I just wanna say that… I hope you'll be successful in the State…"

"Huh?" Rukawa widened his eyes. Is this what he think it is?

"Living a dream is everyone's wish. There's nothing better than being able to do what we've always wanted to do for the rest of our life. And that goes for everyone, as well it goes for me…and for you." Sakuragi's expression got really serious.

"Basketball has always been your life," Sakuragi continued, "You love it to the bottom of your heart, and I do really know that."

Rukawa stayed silent listening in full attention to every word Sakuragi said.

"Knowing that, I won't hold you from reaching your dream and live it. That's why… I'm letting you go to America."

Rukawa surprised by Sakuragi's words.

"I love you Kaede, I see no one but you. But I realized that's not the reason I've been holding you down. The reason I got panic about you leaving is that I'm shocked by your faithfulness in reaching your dream. You are very sure about your life, and actually I envy that. I want to have the same faithfulness about my life. I want to have something that I wanted to do very much just like you do."

Rukawa pulled his hands out of his pockets.

"I know you'll live your dream, Kaede. I know you'll make it," Sakuragi stepped forward to approach Rukawa. He took out something from his bag. A small square-shaped box wrapped in a light blue paper. "Go reach for your dreams, you got all my support. I won't hold you down because I love you, and I know you'll come back to me because you love me."

Sakuragi handed Rukawa his gift. He tried to smile as he gave it, but tears have flooded his eyes.

"Come take it, it's for you…" Sakuragi spoke very softly trying to avoid his tears flowing down.

Rukawa was still standing doing nothing. It seemed that he was speechless.

"Come on, take it! It's not a prank!" Sakuragi got upset. His tears were running down now.

"Damn you, Kitsune!" Sakuragi was ready to punch the boy in front of him. But Rukawa has held him tightly.

"You've got it, Hana-kun… You've got the answer…" Rukawa whispered. His voice sounded a bit shaking, Sakuragi noticed that Rukawa was crying too.

"What took you so long, Do aho…"

Sakuragi didn't reply, he just hugged back as tight as he could. He really misses him so much. He has been longing to be in Kitsune's arms again.

I love you, Kaede… I love you!

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"So have you found out what it is?" Rukawa asked Sakuragi as they were sitting on a bench in a park after they left school on their graduation day.

"Found out what?" while saying that Sakuragi was busy with his ice cream.

"What you wanna do in your life."

Sakuragi paused and tilted his head, "No, not yet. I haven't think of anything," He was busy with his ice cream again, "But I'll come up with something," he grinned.

"I know you will…" Rukawa smiled mildly.

"So, aren't you gonna open it?" Sakuragi pulled his face towards Rukawa's.

"Nani? Ah…your gift…" Rukawa took out Sakuragi's present from his bag. He opened the wrapping carefully and slowly.

Sakuragi's heart was beating rapidly.

I hope he'll like it…I hope he'll like it…

This wasn't the first time Sakuragi ever gave Rukawa any present. He gave some at Rukawa's birthday, Valentine's Day, Christmas, and their anniversary day. But he always felt nervous thinking that his lover wouldn't appreciate the gift as he gave it.

Sakuragi gulped as Rukawa took out the gift from its box.

"Well… do you like it?"

Rukawa didn't say anything, he just stared at the gift in his hand. It was an armband just like the one he used to wear on his left arm--near his elbow. But this one was navy blue and there was an embroidery saying 'Ba-Ki' in white using katakana characters.

"Well…Kaede?" Sakuragi stared at Rukawa's face trying to find any disappointed expressions.

"What is this word mean?" Rukawa pointed at the letters.

"Oh, it's a short for 'Baka-Kitsune', ha…ha…" Sakuragi laughed relievely noticing that Rukawa loves his present. Rukawa's face did look calm but only Sakuragi can tell that he's happy.

"Do aho…" Rukawa put the armband back in to its box. He smiled inside.

"So, where do you wanna go now?" Kitsune stood up from the bench.

"Um, I don't know. Anywhere's fine with me," Sakuragi grinned cheerfully.

Rukawa glanced at him, " Anywhere's fine with me too." He smiled in the warmest way made Sakuragi blushed into red.

And they walked away from the park by holding hands.

The weather was cold, but it was warmer than the springtime in Sakuragi's heart.

He managed to win his Kitsune back in one piece. He also learned to be more considerable in his life. He's growing up.

This was truly a perfect 'graduation day' for Sakuragi.

The Kitsune also received something special in this special day. It was Sakuragi's mature love and his cute little gift.

But there was something that Rukawa didn't know about the gift.

Actually there was another embroidery on the inner side of the armband. It was a small-sized letters also in white, and it says 'aishiteru'.

But of course Rukawa would notice it when he tried the armband. And my guess he wouldn't be too surprised reading it because he knows very well that his Do aho loves him as much as he does.

THE END

Crusty's endnote: Ah…finally, the last chapter. Drop me your comments about it, guys.

And thank you to all of you who have read and gave your comments on this fiction. Actually I have created some spin-offs for this fiction, be prepared, minna-san! ^ ^