Disclaimer : *sigh* You know the drill. ^_^
Warning : none for now
Legend: Words between * are thoughts. Flashbacks and voices from the past are italized.
Authors' notes: Translations for prologue and chapter 1 can be found in their respective chapters. For all those who gave reviews thanks.
Across Time
by: Asashouryuu
- Chapter 2 -
Rukawa was a bit surprised when Sakuragi ignored him during basketball practice. But he immediately revised his plan. He's going to piss his beloved if that's the only way to get his attention.
"Do'ahou," he muttered loud enough to be heard by Sakuragi who was boasting of his being a genius.
"What did you say?" Sakuragi screamed and he lunged towards Rukawa. Rukawa hit Sakuragi at the same moment the red-haired hit him. And they fell on the floor fighting.
"Yamenasai" Akagi yelled as he hit their head with his fist.
"Ikagenishiro" Ayako yelled and hit them with her paper fan.
"That hurts" Sakuragi murmured.
"Sakuragi-kun" a female voice called out.
All pain forgotten as he recognized the voice. Blushing and with heart-eyes he turned his heard towards Haruko. "Haruko-san".
Jealousy bloomed in Rukawa's heart but there's nothing he can do for now except to let him be. Sakuragi was his from the very start and he will claim him again for Sakuragi's memory's sake. Eventually he will have what he wanted. It has always been like that. With that knowledge he played basketball heartily.
Sakuragi's gaze accidentally fell on Rukawa who was pulling a jumper shot and his heart pounded faster. He frowned as he started getting confuse why he reacted that way with Rukawa. Maybe his heart pounded that fast due to hatred. Rukawa was his archrival in love and in basketball. He'll be more than happy to see him defeated by the great tensai. With this thought, he grinned.
~~~
Rukawa looked through the window during the History class discussion. For him the discussion was too boring especially that he had witnessed all those happened the teacher told his class besides he wouldn't care what would happen to the world. The only thing he cared about was his beloved... only his beloved.
~ FLASHBACK ~
Rukawa dressed in dark sky blue leather pants and sleeveless transparent spandex shirt was sitting on the windowsill. His face expressionless... his eyes almost half-mast.
"Kaede-sama" a manservant approached him stealthily.
Rukawa's eyes opened fully but he didn't look at the manservant who was already standing beside him instead he looked at the envelope that was politely thrust by the servant in front of him.
Rukawa took the envelope and dismissed the manservant immediately. He looked at the envelope. He didn't have to open the letter to know the sender. He often received letters from the ruling god Tekken, his uncle and he knew that most letters are just reprimand of his absence on some activities. He tore the envelope open and unfolded the letter. He was surprise when instead of another reprimand, the letter was just another invitation to the annual military demo performance. For all his years of his existence he never attended such activity regardless that he received invitations from his uncle. He hated crowd... he always prefer the seclusion of his rooms...
At the end of the letter was a note that was personally handwritten by his uncle:
'I strongly suggest that you come'
Rukawa smirked... It was more like an order than a suggestion he thought. What is so interesting in military demo performance? For all he knew, the activity only consisted of displaying skills in different ways like fighting. And the only ones who performed are those best military men in heaven. He checked the list of performers attached in the invitation letter. There are some new performers. Then his gaze fell on the name 'Sakuragi gensui'. He had always seen this name in performer's list every year. This gensui must be really good, he thought. Sakuragi the loud... Sakuragi the rude... Sakuragi the proficient flirt... Sakuragi the lewd... Sakuragi the womanizer. He couldn't vouch firsthand if this is true because he just heard it from rumors which sometimes reach this building and besides he never met this guy for two reasons: he never went to the military barracks plus he never attended such military activity. The last time he heard rumor about Sakuragi was yesterday. According to those servants, Sakuragi head-butted his 2 superiors for insulting him. Rukawa stood up as he impulsively made a decision... he will attend the military activity.
~ END of FLASHBACK ~
Rukawa stopped reminiscing as he heard the bell signaling the end of classes and the start of lunch break. He stood up and stretched his body then went to the rooftop to get some sleep...
Rukawa chose the peaceful corner of the rooftop. He looked below him and saw in time Sakuragi headbutting his friends who obviously were teasing him about something. Rukawa sighed, laid down and close his eyes.
~ FLASHBACK ~
Rukawa observed that his uncle Tekken was as immensely pleased as his parents with his presence. Rukawa looked around trying to guess who Sakuragi is among the crowd of military men. But unfortunately there were hundreds of men.
~~~
There was a noise in a particular room located in the west wing of the military building.
"I told you I won't go" a firm but gentle voice said.
"What do you mean by that gensui? Our superiors will have your ass again"
"I don't give a damn gunsou" retorted the gensui.
For them their military title was more or less a pet name.
The gunsou then pulled the blanket that was clasped by the gensui.
"Get out from that bed..." he barked. Although he knew his friend holds a higher title than his."You should be honored that for the 10th time you will perform in front of those noble gods" he continued.
"Honored? I don't feel honored to find myself being watched like a goldfish" replied the gensui.
"I won't let you miss the performance for the 10th time also Sakuragi"
"I won't get out from this bed Jinjin"
Jinjin's eyes fell on the tied thin waist-length head-tail of Sakuragi. Without further ado, he yanked it, which elicited a cry of pain from the gensui.
"What the hell was that for?" Sakuragi asked his friend who was already crossing his arms over his chest. "Che~ you are soooo damned relentless"
~~~
Rukawa's eyes immediately fluttered open as his head rolled forward. It seems that everybody except him was enjoying the military performance. He observed that the military have a group performance at that moment. One of the groups formed 2 lines but the number of their men was odd. Instead of 12 there were only 11 of them. Rukawa looked at one of the generals whose face was a bit distorted. Rukawa was about to close his eyes when he noticed that a man entered the hall and immediately went to the crowd. He wouldn't have minded it but after the man another man came in.
The man was wearing a black shiny boots, leather jeans and a leather sleeveless trenchcoat with no t-shirt or whatsoever under the trenchcoat. But it's not the man's clothes that pique Rukawa's interest. It was the man's hair color and the way he walk... calm and proud...as if he was in procession. Below Rukawa, a general immediately stood up.
"On the double Sakuragi gensui. We'll not wait for you that long"
*Sakuragi?* Rukawa repeated mentally. *That's Sakuragi*
"Why? Did I tell you to wait for me?" Sakuragi replied impolitely which elicited some laughter from the audience and which made the general furious.
*This will make things very interesting* Rukawa thought... sleepiness in his eyes were gone.
~ Tsuzuku ~
Translations:
Yamenasai - stop it
Ikagenishiro - I had enough/ stop it
gensui - five star general; field marshall
gunsou - sergeant
Authors' notes: Blue-eyed Fox thanks for reminding us about the translations. We forgot it. _. And Jan, no we are not going to do the whole SD story, it would be really long. Heck 'long' is an understatement.^^|. Kenren19, yes you are right, Sakuragi is no longer a god. bwahahahahaha. Kawaisou Sakuragi-kun.