Disclaimer : Slam Dunk belongs to Inoue Takehiko...
Chapter 6
Their one-on-one became more frequent. Every evening they would meet at the same basketball court. Whether it's raining or sunny, they never miss a chance to sweat out their best efforts to beat each other. Sendoh was beginning to like Rukawa. He's so quiet and mysterious which draws him closer to the younger boy. No matter how many times he looked at him, he's still amazed at his beauty.
"Okay, let's have a break, Rukawa," Sendoh said, tiredly. They have been playing for almost 2 hours and Rukawa still doesn't give up. This is not the first time Sendoh asked for a break either.
"No, I have to beat you first," was the reply from the raven-haired boy.
Sendoh chuckled, "But I'm so tired."
"Good, it'll give me a chance to win."
"In your dreams," and Sendoh stole the ball from Rukawa's hands. He ran swiftly to the basket to make a shot. He didn't realize Rukawa was already on the air, trying to block his ball.
"Oh no, you won't!" Sendoh made a fake move and dunked.
"Kuso!" Rukawa muttered silently.
"I still win," he smiled.
"Another one."
"What? Rukawa, I'm really tired. We'll continue tomorrow," Sendoh said, pleading like a small boy.
"No."
"I'm hungry."
"Don't change the subject!"
"I really am hungry!"
Rukawa sighed. Sendoh could never concentrate on the game if he's like this.
"Fine," he said coldly and walked to pick up his basketball. "See you tomorrow, then," he said, getting ready to leave.
"Wait, Rukawa! Let's have dinner together. I'll pay," Sendoh offered.
"No, my sister had already prepare food for me. I have to go," Rukawa said.
Sendoh looked disappointed. This is the only chance he can get to know Rukawa more. He just watched Rukawa walked away silently.
'Why doesn't he trust people?'
Sendoh wondered about Rukawa. He doesn't know why Rukawa is so important in his life until he has to think about him every second. Sendoh just can't get him out of his head. In his life, he's never met someone like him. So quiet, so cold and so expressionless. Why is he like that?
'I want to know more about him. I care for him. He's my friend.'
Is that all? Is that why he wants to be friend with Rukawa? Just to know more about him. Or maybe, there is another reason that only the deepest part of his heart knows.
'I've never felt so strong to a friend like this before. Could it be that I…?'
He didn't dare to continue that sentence. It doesn't make sense. Why would he? He just met Rukawa last 2 weeks but it's like they've been friends for ages.
'It's so confusing. Do I really think of him as a friend or… someone else?'
**********
"Tadaima," Rukawa said, as he walked into his home.
"Okaeri," Ayako greeted him smiling. She was wearing a pink apron with a spatula on her left hand.
"Is dinner ready?" Rukawa asked, taking off his shoes.
"No. Why don't you go and take a bath first? You looked really tired. Playing with that mysterious guy again?" she asked, teasingly. Ever since she knew about the boy who her little brother always plays with, she called him 'mysterious' because Rukawa refused to tell her his name.
"Yeah."
Ayako smiled as she watched her little brother walked up to his room. Rukawa has changed, Ayako realized. He's not as quiet as before, which is good. He sometimes tells Ayako about his game with the 'mysterious guy'. This is an improvement. Finally, Rukawa is talking about something. Ayako wondered who is this guy that successfully changed Rukawa.
'I'm going to find out who that mysterious guy is no matter what.'
**********
It was another day of their game. As usual, Sendoh is always leading and Rukawa refused to end the game.
"48-46. Last score then we'll end the game," Sendoh said, breathless.
Rukawa nodded, the ball is in his possession.
'All I need is a 3-pointer,' Rukawa thought, looking at the hoop.
"Don't even think about scoring a 3-pointer," Sendoh said, grinning.
'He read my mind.'
"I won't let you," Sendoh widened his defense.
Rukawa moved to his left and Sendoh was fooled. They he quickly went pass him at the right.
"Oh no, you won't!" Sendoh ran after him but Rukawa made a sudden stop. He jumped.
'What!?'
Sendoh tried to reach for the ball but he was too late. He can only watched the ball soared in the air and then entered the goal.
"3 point. 48-49. I win," Rukawa declared.
"You were lucky," Sendoh said. Rukawa shot him death glares when he heard that.
"So, you win. Can I treat you for dinner?" Sendoh asked. Rukawa hesitated.
"Come on, for our friendship's sake."
'Friendship?' Rukawa thought. After thinking for a while, he finally agreed.
**********
Sendoh had brought him to a small stall just beside the beach. That stall belonged to his uncle. So, they ate cold noodles, 3 bowls each. Sendoh didn't know Rukawa was a big eater because of his thin figure. After dinner, Sendoh pulled Rukawa for a walk at the beach.
"What a beautiful night," Sendoh commented. Rukawa just walked beside him silently. It was indeed a beautiful night. The moon was full and it shines brightly in the sky. There're no clouds seen that night.
"Let's sit for a while," Sendoh said. He was trying to start up a conversation. They both sat on the soft sand.
"What do you think about the food just now?" he asked, looking at Rukawa's side face.
"It's nice."
Then, there was silence. Suddenly, Sendoh rolled up his pants.
"What are you doing?" Rukawa asked.
"Just wanna walk in the sea," Sendoh stood up. Then, he offered his hand to Rukawa.
"I don't think so."
Sendoh insisted and he pulled Rukawa up. Unfortunately, he lost his balance and fell on him.
"Ite…"
Sendoh blushed when he noticed Rukawa's face was just inches away from his.
"Ah, gomen," he quickly stood up. He brushed off some sand on his pants. That's when Rukawa saw a thin-line scar across his leg.
"Sendoh, that…" Rukawa pointed at it.
"Oh, this. I got it in an accident when I was young," Sendoh explained. "An accident that killed my parents."
Rukawa was slightly shocked.
"I'm sorry."
"Nah, it's okay. I've accepted the fact," Sendoh said, smiling.
'How can he smile so easily when I…?'
"What about you, Rukawa? Where're your parents?" Sendoh asked, not realizing the question hurt Rukawa.
"I don't know," Rukawa's voice was barely a whisper. His face was sad, like he want to cry.
"Did I say anything wrong?" Sendoh asked, worried.
"No. It's just that I lost my memory. I don't know who my parents are," Rukawa explained. This time, Sendoh was shocked.
"My foster parents took me in. They claimed to be my mother's friend. I don't know… I…"
Sendoh waited for him to continue.
"They told me I'm Rukawa Kaede. But sometimes I wonder if that is my real identity. I have no one around me, except them. My memory was gone… I wish I just know who I am…"
Rukawa was crying. He tried to hold back his tears but they just flowed down his cheeks. All these sad feelings were trapped in him so long. He couldn't help himself. He expected Sendoh to laugh at him for crying. But what Sendoh did to him was more unexpectable. Sendoh kissed him on the lips. It was a soft, short kiss but sweet. Rukawa was shocked. However he didn't pull away. He felt like he needed it but doesn't know for what reason. Sendoh broke the kiss as soon as he realized what he's doing.
"Gomen, Rukawa. I didn't mean it… I…" Sendoh couldn't find the right words to describe his action. He was blushing furiously. Why did he do it anyway? He surprised himself. When he saw Rukawa cried, he just wanted to wipe away his tears but he gave him a kiss instead. Rukawa was speechless.
"Rukawa, are you mad at me?" Sendoh asked, seeing no response from the younger boy. "Hontoni gomen nasai…"
"It's enough."
Sendoh was shocked. He was so scared that Rukawa might hate him. What have he done?
"I have to go," Rukawa said, hurriedly. Before he could reach for his bad, Sendoh pulled him into a hug.
"Gomen… I don't want to see you cry… I just…" Sendoh whispered.
'No, I can't! I just can't do it,' Rukawa thought.
"Sendoh, let me go."
Sendoh was taken aback by that cold voice of his. Slowly but reluctant, he let Rukawa go. Rukawa quickly picked up his bag and left. Sendoh dropped on his knees.
"I love you…"
-tbc-
Please review!!!
Chapter 6
Their one-on-one became more frequent. Every evening they would meet at the same basketball court. Whether it's raining or sunny, they never miss a chance to sweat out their best efforts to beat each other. Sendoh was beginning to like Rukawa. He's so quiet and mysterious which draws him closer to the younger boy. No matter how many times he looked at him, he's still amazed at his beauty.
"Okay, let's have a break, Rukawa," Sendoh said, tiredly. They have been playing for almost 2 hours and Rukawa still doesn't give up. This is not the first time Sendoh asked for a break either.
"No, I have to beat you first," was the reply from the raven-haired boy.
Sendoh chuckled, "But I'm so tired."
"Good, it'll give me a chance to win."
"In your dreams," and Sendoh stole the ball from Rukawa's hands. He ran swiftly to the basket to make a shot. He didn't realize Rukawa was already on the air, trying to block his ball.
"Oh no, you won't!" Sendoh made a fake move and dunked.
"Kuso!" Rukawa muttered silently.
"I still win," he smiled.
"Another one."
"What? Rukawa, I'm really tired. We'll continue tomorrow," Sendoh said, pleading like a small boy.
"No."
"I'm hungry."
"Don't change the subject!"
"I really am hungry!"
Rukawa sighed. Sendoh could never concentrate on the game if he's like this.
"Fine," he said coldly and walked to pick up his basketball. "See you tomorrow, then," he said, getting ready to leave.
"Wait, Rukawa! Let's have dinner together. I'll pay," Sendoh offered.
"No, my sister had already prepare food for me. I have to go," Rukawa said.
Sendoh looked disappointed. This is the only chance he can get to know Rukawa more. He just watched Rukawa walked away silently.
'Why doesn't he trust people?'
Sendoh wondered about Rukawa. He doesn't know why Rukawa is so important in his life until he has to think about him every second. Sendoh just can't get him out of his head. In his life, he's never met someone like him. So quiet, so cold and so expressionless. Why is he like that?
'I want to know more about him. I care for him. He's my friend.'
Is that all? Is that why he wants to be friend with Rukawa? Just to know more about him. Or maybe, there is another reason that only the deepest part of his heart knows.
'I've never felt so strong to a friend like this before. Could it be that I…?'
He didn't dare to continue that sentence. It doesn't make sense. Why would he? He just met Rukawa last 2 weeks but it's like they've been friends for ages.
'It's so confusing. Do I really think of him as a friend or… someone else?'
**********
"Tadaima," Rukawa said, as he walked into his home.
"Okaeri," Ayako greeted him smiling. She was wearing a pink apron with a spatula on her left hand.
"Is dinner ready?" Rukawa asked, taking off his shoes.
"No. Why don't you go and take a bath first? You looked really tired. Playing with that mysterious guy again?" she asked, teasingly. Ever since she knew about the boy who her little brother always plays with, she called him 'mysterious' because Rukawa refused to tell her his name.
"Yeah."
Ayako smiled as she watched her little brother walked up to his room. Rukawa has changed, Ayako realized. He's not as quiet as before, which is good. He sometimes tells Ayako about his game with the 'mysterious guy'. This is an improvement. Finally, Rukawa is talking about something. Ayako wondered who is this guy that successfully changed Rukawa.
'I'm going to find out who that mysterious guy is no matter what.'
**********
It was another day of their game. As usual, Sendoh is always leading and Rukawa refused to end the game.
"48-46. Last score then we'll end the game," Sendoh said, breathless.
Rukawa nodded, the ball is in his possession.
'All I need is a 3-pointer,' Rukawa thought, looking at the hoop.
"Don't even think about scoring a 3-pointer," Sendoh said, grinning.
'He read my mind.'
"I won't let you," Sendoh widened his defense.
Rukawa moved to his left and Sendoh was fooled. They he quickly went pass him at the right.
"Oh no, you won't!" Sendoh ran after him but Rukawa made a sudden stop. He jumped.
'What!?'
Sendoh tried to reach for the ball but he was too late. He can only watched the ball soared in the air and then entered the goal.
"3 point. 48-49. I win," Rukawa declared.
"You were lucky," Sendoh said. Rukawa shot him death glares when he heard that.
"So, you win. Can I treat you for dinner?" Sendoh asked. Rukawa hesitated.
"Come on, for our friendship's sake."
'Friendship?' Rukawa thought. After thinking for a while, he finally agreed.
**********
Sendoh had brought him to a small stall just beside the beach. That stall belonged to his uncle. So, they ate cold noodles, 3 bowls each. Sendoh didn't know Rukawa was a big eater because of his thin figure. After dinner, Sendoh pulled Rukawa for a walk at the beach.
"What a beautiful night," Sendoh commented. Rukawa just walked beside him silently. It was indeed a beautiful night. The moon was full and it shines brightly in the sky. There're no clouds seen that night.
"Let's sit for a while," Sendoh said. He was trying to start up a conversation. They both sat on the soft sand.
"What do you think about the food just now?" he asked, looking at Rukawa's side face.
"It's nice."
Then, there was silence. Suddenly, Sendoh rolled up his pants.
"What are you doing?" Rukawa asked.
"Just wanna walk in the sea," Sendoh stood up. Then, he offered his hand to Rukawa.
"I don't think so."
Sendoh insisted and he pulled Rukawa up. Unfortunately, he lost his balance and fell on him.
"Ite…"
Sendoh blushed when he noticed Rukawa's face was just inches away from his.
"Ah, gomen," he quickly stood up. He brushed off some sand on his pants. That's when Rukawa saw a thin-line scar across his leg.
"Sendoh, that…" Rukawa pointed at it.
"Oh, this. I got it in an accident when I was young," Sendoh explained. "An accident that killed my parents."
Rukawa was slightly shocked.
"I'm sorry."
"Nah, it's okay. I've accepted the fact," Sendoh said, smiling.
'How can he smile so easily when I…?'
"What about you, Rukawa? Where're your parents?" Sendoh asked, not realizing the question hurt Rukawa.
"I don't know," Rukawa's voice was barely a whisper. His face was sad, like he want to cry.
"Did I say anything wrong?" Sendoh asked, worried.
"No. It's just that I lost my memory. I don't know who my parents are," Rukawa explained. This time, Sendoh was shocked.
"My foster parents took me in. They claimed to be my mother's friend. I don't know… I…"
Sendoh waited for him to continue.
"They told me I'm Rukawa Kaede. But sometimes I wonder if that is my real identity. I have no one around me, except them. My memory was gone… I wish I just know who I am…"
Rukawa was crying. He tried to hold back his tears but they just flowed down his cheeks. All these sad feelings were trapped in him so long. He couldn't help himself. He expected Sendoh to laugh at him for crying. But what Sendoh did to him was more unexpectable. Sendoh kissed him on the lips. It was a soft, short kiss but sweet. Rukawa was shocked. However he didn't pull away. He felt like he needed it but doesn't know for what reason. Sendoh broke the kiss as soon as he realized what he's doing.
"Gomen, Rukawa. I didn't mean it… I…" Sendoh couldn't find the right words to describe his action. He was blushing furiously. Why did he do it anyway? He surprised himself. When he saw Rukawa cried, he just wanted to wipe away his tears but he gave him a kiss instead. Rukawa was speechless.
"Rukawa, are you mad at me?" Sendoh asked, seeing no response from the younger boy. "Hontoni gomen nasai…"
"It's enough."
Sendoh was shocked. He was so scared that Rukawa might hate him. What have he done?
"I have to go," Rukawa said, hurriedly. Before he could reach for his bad, Sendoh pulled him into a hug.
"Gomen… I don't want to see you cry… I just…" Sendoh whispered.
'No, I can't! I just can't do it,' Rukawa thought.
"Sendoh, let me go."
Sendoh was taken aback by that cold voice of his. Slowly but reluctant, he let Rukawa go. Rukawa quickly picked up his bag and left. Sendoh dropped on his knees.
"I love you…"
-tbc-
Please review!!!