Disclaimer : Whaaaat! Did you say Inoue Takehito owns the SD characters? *sigh* You're hundred percent right. *cries*

Warning :Oh geez... do we have to? Just read at your own risk. ^^|

Legend: Words between * are thoughts. Flashbacks and voices from the past are italized.

Authors' Notes: Although both of them were gods, we referred Rukawa as 'kami' and Sakuragi as 'gensui'.

Sorry for the late updates. we are so busy. Thanks for the reviews and we're already making this R-18.

Across Time

by: Asashouryuu



- Chapter 5 -

After classes... he reached the gym and found sakuragi cleaning.

Sakuragi stopped mopping and looked at Rukawa "Oi... kitsune stop looking and start cleaning"

He? a god? was asked to clean? not that he doesn't know how... he can adapt to his surroundings. That was one of his best characters.

"Do'ahou" he muttered

"What did you say? You insulted the tensai again" Sakuragi shouted

Rukawa went to get a mop ignoring sakuragi.

Tensai? Tensai his ass! He can't even remember him.

During their practice, Rukawa was asked to show Sakuragi how to execute dribble shoot.

"Kyaa...kyaa... they are so noisy" Sakuragi muttered referring to the swooning shin'eitai.

As Rukawa dribbled the ball towards the basket, a ball rolled to his feet... good thing he didn't slipped. He glared at the only one who would do such thing... Sakuragi! The only satisfaction he got was their captain hitting him with his fist.

He performed the dribble shoot perfectly and adoring screams filled the gym.

*Do'ahou* the ace player thought as he watched the failed attempts of Sakuragi and his constant argument with their captain.

"Oi! Rukawa... do it one more time" Akagi told him.

"Haruko-san" Sakuragi muttered desperately as Haruko joined the swooning shin'eitai.

In frustration he threw the ball towards Rukawa, hitting the ace player in his butt.

"Nu..." Rukawa muttered as he caressed the painful part of his butt.

"haa" then with a goofy smile on his face sakuragi added "my hand slipped"

"This is for you" Akagi reminded him with a bap on his head.

"My hand really slipped" the red-haired insisted. "youshi!" sakuragi said as he held the ball in his hands "I'll do it this time" then he drove towards the basket. The ball rebounded and hit him full face much to the amusement of the shin'eitai.

"It serves him right" Rukawa muttered under his breath.

Kogure stepped in to help Akagi and to prevent themselves from killing or hurting each other.

"Observe Rukuwa's form" Kogure told Sakuragi

"I can do it alone" Sakuragi whined

Ignoring Sakuragi, Kogure told Rukawa " Rukuwa one more time please"

*again... for that do'ahou?* as he looked at sakuragi flanked by Kogure and Akagi.

*Mattaku* he cursed silently as he moves towards the basket.

He was surprised when a ball hit him hard at the back of his head.

"haa... my hand slipped" sakuragi announced which made Kogure looked old and speechless.

*this is too much... he should be grateful I am willing to teach him and should stop goofing around. Maa... if he wants to play basketball in a weird way then it would be more than my pleasure to play with him*

"Youshi... I'll practice now and I'll do it this time" sakuragi announced with vigor and intensity. Just then a ball hit the side of his face.

With eyes full of hatred, he looked at the direction where the ball came from.

"My hand slipped" Rukawa said coolly and innocently.

Such action and admission coming from Rukawa made everybody speechless even the shin'eitai. Who would have thought he would stoop to Sakuragi's level?

"nu..." Sakuragi muttered as he and Rukawa started their glaring bout. Each taking he's fighting stance.

"okay...okay... there's no need to fight... okay guys?" Kogure hurriedly said as he went to the two freshmen.

Rukawa listened half-heartedly as Kogure put some sense on Sakuragi's head.

"Oi.. Rukawa... I'm sorry" Sakuragi said much to the surprise of Rukawa. "You performed your shots well that it made me feel vex... sorry"

Sakuragi's apology had different effects on the others. Kogure smiled in approval, the gundan was surprise while Haruko was speechless.

"Please show it to me one more time how it is done... the dribble shoot I mean".

Rukawa looked at Sakuragi's eyes to check if those brown eyes of his are laughing in mirth just like 1001 years ago or there was some trace of sarcasm or mockery and when he found none, he said "okay"

"well said Sakuragi-kun" Haruko exclaimed happily.

Sakuragi watched as Rukawa started dribbling the ball towards the basket.

"My whole body slipped" Sakuragi announced wickedly as he poured the ball container full of basketballs on Rukawa. With all those balls falling on him taking him by surprise Rukawa fell on the floor on fours.

"hahahahaha stupid Rukawa... take this... and this" Sakuragi said ominously as he continuously throw the balls to the ace player.

Rukawa wouldn't have mind if Sakuragi didn't pour all those balls or if he didn't throw those balls continuously at him like he was doing now but he did and he had enough. Lovers or not he had enough.

With an evil gleam on his eyes he threw the empty ball container towards Sakuragi.

"Rukawa you bastard" Sakuragi yelled.

"Stop it" Akagi shouted.

Sakuragi paled while Rukawa watched silently as the ball container fell on Akagi.

"You two are banned from playing basketball today" Akagi announced furiously.

Sakuragi muttered curses as he sat beside his gundan while Rukawa went to the other corner and sat there. He closed his eyes and let his mind flew back to 1000 years ago. He could have steal Hanamichi's memory of his past life from the memory hall in heaven but it was totally heavily guarded and the only person who's allowed to enter was Tekken only. Besides if he stole it and enforce it on Sakuragi he would feel pain and would perhaps die. He had no choice but to stick in the only way he can think of.

~ flashback ~

3 months has passed since their first night together. They didn't bed any woman. After all why would they settle for less after experiencing the mind-blowing pleasure they had with each other? They stick with each other and spent much time with each other and if only they weren't afraid to arouse suspicion and rumors from the other gods they would have spent all their time together even if its military meeting or party for noble gods. Their relationship bordering between discreet and not. In everything they do there were always sexual connotations and most of the sexual connotations were courtesy of Rukawa not that Sakuragi mind also.

Rukawa is pacing back and forth in his room. His movements speaking of restlessness and worry. He stopped by the window and looked outside.

~ FLASHBACK ~

Rukawa was holding Sakuragi in his arms after they had sex with each other.

Rukawa heard Sakuragi chuckle "Do you know that you are a natural seme Kaede?"

Rukawa just looked at him with an arched eyebrow.

"Not that I'm complaining but I never thought not even once that I would be uke"

"..."

"not that I'm complaining. Playing the role of uke is my pleasure as long as you are the seme" sakuragi with a blush which made Rukawa thought endearing.

He dipped his head to kiss the still swollen lips of the red-haired.

After some seconds later,

"Ne Kaede some military troops will be subduing some youkai 10 hours later. I'm one of them"

Worry cross over Rukawa's face as he looked at Sakuragi, knowing that the red-haired said was a half-truth.

"Ah! okay so we are fighting the demons but don't worry. Although according to military intelligence those demons are quite powerful we'd still win over them. Such battles last maximum of five days"

"..."

"I wish Tekken-sama would create a world for those youkai" sakuragi said under his breath

Rukawa's embrace tightened "ja... I'll miss your company especially in bed" he said huskily

Sakuragi just raised his eyebrow but his eyes told Rukawa that he'll also miss him.

"I've a reason to feast at this time" Rukawa said as he started running his hands over Sakuragi's body

"Hentai... Don't forget we need to be fully rested when we get to the battlefield"

"Oh don't worry. I'll let you rest later" Rukawa murmured as his tongue started tracing the edges of his ear.

~ END of FLASHBACK ~

Now this is the 5th day. And Rukawa wouldn't want the battle to stretch for six days. He was barely alive without sakuragi for five days, how much more if it's the 6th day already. He wanted to see his face... to feel his touch... to hear his beloved voice. He missed Sakuragi... missed the person he love. There was a frown on Rukawa's face as he realized his last phrase. Love? Then he smiled... of course he love Sakuragi. Love is the only thing that can describe what he felt for Sakuragi. And for the first time of his existence, Rukawa the most indifferent god had come to love and care for only one person. Well... he'll just have to soak in the bath so he'd stop walking back and forth.

It was already near evening in earth. Sakuragi spread the map and looked at it. They were closed to victory but he will not sleep until he couldn't have the victory he wanted. His mind trailed to Rukawa. He wanted to see him so much and he wondered if Rukawa was already worried of him. He had to win the battle and fast so he could go back to his love. Sakuragi smiled... yes he love Kaede and perhaps that is the reason why he offered himself to him that time and not because he wanted to get rid of Rukawa although that's what he made himself believe in. The when, how and why he love Rukawa are all insignificant all that matters is he love Rukawa. He looked at his invisible chains and smiled brightly instead of grimly. He had found freedom in Rukawa who had taken the pain of the memories of the chain. Now he looked at the chain not as an imprisonment... a punishment but an honor to those he have killed and will be killed.

Rukawa had fallen asleep in his tub. His skin and the water were like glistening as beams of light fell through his window. But the sudden noises erupting from outside of his room woke him through and he knew right there and then that the troops had arrived. He got out from the tub and hurriedly dried himself. Thinking that he had spent a lot of his time drying, he just wrapped a towel around his waist and slipped to Sakuragi's room.

Sakuragi opened his room with all the intention of changing clothes before he would meet Rukawa. But the sight of bed made him realize that he hadn't slept for five days and he was tired... dead tired. As if his feet had its own mind, he walked to the bed and lay down there. Then he felt a presence. He didn't have to ask who it was. Rukawa had this power to fill a room with his presence.

As soon as Rukawa opened the door the offensive scent of blood rushes to him. He looked at the bed.

"Are you okay?" he asked with worry

"Yes... I'm just tired"

"You're going to stain our bed"

"The blood is already dry Kaede"

"But I don't want to smell the scent of youkai blood" Rukawa insisted

"I'm too tired to take them off" Sakuragi said with a smile and reach for Rukawa

"I refuse to lie down with you... I am not going to have sex with someone who reeks with youkai blood" Rukawa said crossing his arms over his chest. "Take a bath"

"I'm too tired." then his gaze fell on Rukawa's towel.

"I was eager to see you" the raven-haired god explained

"Let's take a bath together shall we?"

Rukawa smiled "sure".

Five hours later they were in Sakuragi's bed. Still panting after their previous activity. Sakuragi lay on his side feigning sleepiness as he tried to think. He loved Rukawa yet the latter only wanted his body. He had broken the law that Tekken imposed and that is to love the person who comes from your own station. Rukawa wasn't in his station, his station was higher than his. He had to find some way to lessen the pain. He's hurt now but he'd be more than hurt in the future.

Rukawa watched as Sakuragi's swung his legs aside and sat on the edge of the bed. He swore his shoulders were tensed.

"Ne, Kaede let's stop this"

Blue eyes mirrored surprised and panic. "Why? I didn't do anything wrong didn't I?"

"No you didn't. But we just have to stop this" trying to blot out the pain he heard from Rukawa's voice.

"Why? Surely I deserve some explanation, Hana" in desperation he placed his hand on Sakuragi's shoulder.

Sakuragi sighed. Rukawa was right he deserves an explanation. "Because I don't want to love you deeper than I already do. It hurts knowing that all you felt for me was lust"

There was silence for few seconds as Rukawa tried to swallow what sakuragi said. Sakuragi love him? god! he's not deaf right? he heard it right, right?

In pure happiness he hugged Sakuragi from behind and laughed.

"Great... you are mocking me" Sakuragi uttered.

"Nope. I'm not. I'm just happy that after all my love is requited!"

"Requited?"

Rukawa nodded "I love you too. Perhaps I love you the moment I saw you taking a bath in the river but I didn't realize that thanks to my perverted mind"

Sakuragi turned around "do you know what we are doing?"

"Of course. We've just broken one of the laws"

"You're not afraid?"

"Why should I? Are you?"

"Of course not. I won't be infamous for nothing"

Sakuragi snuggled closer "Aishiteru Kaede... zutto aishiteru"

"Aishiteru Hana... hontou ni aishiteru" Rukawa whispered as he pulled sakuragi back to bed.

And when they made love... it exceeded all those times they did it. Each touch, each caress, each words that escaped from their lips were filled with love.

~ Tsuzuku ~