Disclaimer : We own the SD characters *sigh* just dreaming. They are under the property of Inoue-sama ^_^

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'.
Thanks for the reviews and we apologize for the late update *bows*

Across Time

by: Asashouryuu



- Chapter 6 -

A year has passed with such bliss. And then suddenly his uncle summoned Rukawa.

His surprise was mirrored in Sakuragi's face as they saw each other. Rukawa noticed that his parents were also present. Seeing his uncle and his parents made him feel that something was wrong.

"What this I heard from a trusted source about you having an affair with Sakuragi-gensui..." Tekken said.

"Damn those rumors. We were just friends" Rukawa insisted coolly and Sakuragi nodded his head in agreement.

"Friends? Do friends get so intimate and kissed each other passionately? Do they intimately tease each other?" Tekken voice boomed loud. Then he looked at Sakuragi "you do know the punishment don't you?"

Rukawa remembered what Sakuragi said about the difference between humans and gods. He clenched his fist "You're being unfair here. Why would you punish Sakuragi only? It takes two to tango" he demanded.

"I believed that Sakuragi seduced you in doing those things and-"

"I was the one who seduced him" Rukawa admitted much to the embarrassment of his parents "Why would I want to go down to ningenkai and observe humans? I just wanted to be alone with Hana at that time"

The mother of Rukawa paled and was close to fainting.

"My mind is already made up. He did that to mock noble gods in an interesting way"

Sakuragi shook his head "You're wrong... What I felt for Kaede was sincere"

"ENOUGH" Tekken ordered "You'll be transmigrated to the world below"

The announcement shocked both of them. A shock Sakuragi was led away by guards.

Transmigrated? That means... Rukawa's thought trailed.

"Hanamichi" he screamed as he went after sakuragi.

"Kaede" his father called out.

His name being called by Kaede broke him from his state. He pushed the guards, turned around and ran towards Kaede. The two hugged each other.

"Gomen" as he tightened his hold on Sakuragi.

"It's not your fault Kaede our love was a taboo from the beginning. Someday I'm sure we'll meet again and when we do, let's continue our love"

"I'll search for you. So wait for me" Rukawa said with such sorrow.

"I'll wait for you." then he snuggled closer "hold me close and don't let me go. I'll never forget you"

"I'll love you Hanamichi"

Sakuragi gasped softly as he felt Rukawa's hands unclasping the manacles.

"Let me have them" Rukawa whispered and Sakuragi nodded.

For those who looked at them, they thought Rukawa was only touching Sakuragi's neck, wrists and ankles and which they thought was weird.

Rukawa and Sakuragi felt hands pulling them away from each other. Sakuragi reached out his hand and Rukawa took it. He watched in silent helplessness as Sakuragi's hand slowly slipped from his until he grasped only the air.

"Hana~" he screamed as Sakuragi the only person whom he cared and love was taken away from him.

Knowing that he lost sakuragi, he couldn't face another day without him. He felt like he was dead. He couldn't take such sorrow, painful and sadness and he placed himself in a lethargic state. His soul forever searching for the only person whom he loved.

~ END of FLASHBACK ~

Practice has ended and Akagi looked at the sleeping Rukawa. Everybody knew what awaits whoever woke him up from his sleep.

Sakuragi looked at the sleeping Rukawa and a mischievous plan came up to his mind.

Akagi watched as Sakuragi dash towards the emergency cabinet located at the adjourned wash room of the gym. Then went back to Rukawa carrying a flashlight. He kneeled in front of the ace player silently giggling. Using his pointer and thumb, he forcibly but gently opened Rukawa's left eye. He then leveled the flashlight with the opened eye and then turned the flashlight on.

Instead of hearing Rukawa's surprise scream, two fists connected to Sakuragi's jaw taking him by surprise and then followed by two kicks. Rukawa stood up rubbing his eyes from sleepiness and looked at the dazed sakuragi lying on the floor with a flashlight on one hand wondering what he was doing there.

~~~

Sakuragi frowned darkly as he took the usual route towards his residence. Unable to contain his annoyance anymore, he stopped and whirled around.

"Stop following me will you?" he demanded angrily.

Rukawa turned his head over his shoulder to see if Sakuragi was talking to another person and not him.

"I'm talking to you kitsune"

Rukawa feigned surprise "Who would follow you?"

Okay it was a lie. He was not stalking Sakuragi, if he did he wouldn't really felt his presence. He was just following Sakuragi not that he doesn't know where Sakuragi lives. He just wanted to walk Sakuragi home but since it was really impossible, he had to resort to this.

"I was just going to visit an old friend"

Sakuragi was surprised to hear it. It was good as Rukawa admitting that he owned the universe. "You, the walking ice block got a friend? For a man of few words, you're talkative tonight"

Because I am talking to you do'ahou. "Do'ahou" the ace player uttered but it fell on deaf ears as Sakuragi kept on staring on something behind him. He watched as blush crept on Sakuragi's face. And Rukawa knew there was only one who can make him blush as red as that. And his suspicion was confirmed when sakuragi exclaimed "Ha-Haruko-san"

"Sakuragi-kun!" she exclaimed then saw the other player and blushed "Rukawa-kun"

"What are you doing here Haruko-san?"

"I came from a friend's house but I'm going home"

"Let me walk you home" Sakuragi offered.

Walk her home!, Rukawa thought, no way...

As he passed by Rukawa, Sakuragi went rigid and pale.

"Sakuragi-kun are you okay?" Haruko asked as she went to Sakuragi.

"Of course" Sakuragi lied. "Let's go"

Why are you lying Hana? Rukawa asked mentally

This time Sakuragi's hands shot up and clutched his head as the pain in his head intensified. Beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Seconds later his legs buckled beneath him.

"Sakuragi-kun?" Haruko shouted in worry but her shout came as normal tone to Sakuragi's ears.

"My head... it's aching" he murmured in pain.

"We have to get you home" Haruko said and looked at the ace player silently begging for help. Rukawa just looked at her calmly. Haruko didn't have to ask him. he'd be more than willing to bring him home or anywhere at all especially to the world of delights.

Sakuragi silently seethed as Rukawa supported his weight while Haruko carried his bag. He arrived home mainly with the help of Rukawa. The three stood in front of the front door of Sakuragi's residence.

"Sakuragi-kun, the key" Haruko said.

"ah...oh yes the key" Sakuragi unwound his right arm from Rukawa's neck and fumbled for the key in his pocket. Unbeknownst to him, a necklace was entwined with the key so when he took the key out, half of the necklace dangled from his pocket.

He gave the key to Haruko who then opened the door for them.

"Where's your mother" she asked.

"She's on business trip. she'll be back 5 days from now."

He's alone the raven-haired said mentally. He knew that when the red-haired would be settled he'd immediately order him to leave his house and that means the two will be alone. He didn't like it one bit. He'll make sure they'll never be alone. He's going to make his gundan come very fast. As they took the first step of the stairs, the necklace finally fell from the pocket and landed unnoticed on the floor.

"I'm not going to thank you" Sakuragi said as soon as he was settled in his own bed.

"Do'ahou. I'm not expecting" Rukawa replied as he straightened himself.

He inwardly smiled as he heard the door being opened and Youhei shouted Sakuragi's name.

He met the gundan on the stairs.

"Rukawa!" they uttered in chorus, obviously surprised to find him there.

"Your friend is sick" he said coolly. He met Youhei's suspicious gaze squarely.

Don't look at me like I'm the one who did it to him mortal, Rukawa ordered mentally. Not that he wasn't but there's no way he's going to admit that to anybody.

He resumed walking down the stairs as the gundan went to Sakuragi's room.

"Oi, Noma you have to walk Haruko home" Sakuragi ordered with regret.

Rukawa smiled in satisfaction. His right foot stopped in midair as he felt that his left foot stepped on something. He lifted it and saw the necklace. He looked surprised not because he saw the necklace but because of what was dangling on it. Rukawa immediately picked it and stared at the shiny platinum ring. He wasn't mistaken. It was his. Sakuragi had kept it although he can't remember anything. And he didn't kept it, he brought it with him.

~ FLASHBACK ~

The two were on Rukawa's room. Rukawa stirred in his sleep and feeling the refreshingly cold wind, he moved to his side where he knew sakuragi was sleeping. When he didn't feel Sakuragi's warmth, his hands started searching for his body. When it hit him that Sakuragi wasn't in their bed, he bolted to a sitting position. His blue eyes on the verge of panic move around the room. God! did he leave him? Sakuragi never left him before no matter how urgent the reason is so why now? He sighed in relief as he saw Sakuragi standing by the window across the room. A white cloth was tied around his waist. Rukawa smiled and get out from bed unmindful of his state of nakedness.

Sakuragi's body immediately leaned as he felt Rukawa behind him.

"Ohayou Hana" he greeted as he slid his hand into the white cloth but his hand remained motionless.

"Ohayou" Sakuragi leaned back when Rukawa's other hand held something in front of his face. He looked at the thing between his thumb and pointer finger.

"It's a ring" he said.

"Wow... what an astute observation" Rukawa teased him. Then became sober when he said "a symbol of my endless love". His left hand slipped out from the cloth and raised Sakuragi's hand. He slowly inserted the ring into his ring finger. Just then a light beam fell on his hand making the ring glistened.

"Arigatou Kaede" he said solemnly.

Rukawa kissed Sakuragi's neck.

"Don't over do it Kaede... I still have to go to ningenkai by 8 for scouting"

"Can I go with you?"

He wanted Rukawa to go with him but then he also doesn't want him to go because Rukawa always made it a point to disturb him with his way of seduction and sexual banter. He wouldn't have minded it a bit if they weren't in a place where demons would attack them in any moment.

"IF you'll behave yourself"

"Okay... but only after I seduce you once or twice" Rukawa said with a shrug of his shoulders. Sakuragi laughed... he knew that he'll be seduce endlessly. Rukawa started pulling him to bed.

"We still have 1 hr and 30 minutes. We can make love twice within the time"

"Yeah right" a dubious Sakuragi said in a pant.

"Do I have to remind you Hana that we were able to make love thrice within one hr."

"It was your fault you were kinky" Sakuragi replied already clinging Rukawa for support.

"It was your fault. if you didn't slipped and landed on your floor with your legs opened..."

"It was your fault"

Rukawa sighed "let me show you why it was your fault" then he pushed Sakuragi to the bed.

~ END of FLASHBACK ~

"Did that sly kitsune already left he house" Sakuragi asked in a loud voice breaking Rukawa's thoughts.

He moved quickly towards the door.

"Yes he did" he heard Takamiya said just as he shut the door. Rukawa looked at the star-lit sky with his hope of regaining Sakuragi brighter and bigger.

~~~

Sakuragi was left in his room with Youhei. He was still mad at his fate. Just when he could walk Haruko home, a stupid painful headache appeared. His hand went into his pocket to retrieve the only thing that calms him down... his lucky charm... the platinum ring.

When he can't find it, he started looking for it in his other pocket.

Youhei looked at the panic-stricken face of Sakuragi.

"What's wrong?"

"Remember the ring... it's gone"

Before Youhei could comment, Sakuragi was out of the bed.

"Oi... I thought you weren't feeling well" Youhei called out

"I am already well" as he retraced his steps towards the front door. When he couldn't find it, he started retracing his steps towards his school.

"Yare yare" Youhei murmured as he followed his childhood friend.

~ Tsuzuku ~