Disclaimer: I don't own them. This is only a fanfiction.

A/N: These vignettes don't really follow a timeline so one story may happen in winter while the next may happen in spring. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have reviewed this fic. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

Lessons

"That's enough practice for today," Kaede told his boyfriend who was currently sprawled face down on the ground. He resisted the urge to smack the rump being presented to him in broad daylight.

Hanamichi sprung from the pavement of the public basketball court where they had been playing for the past hour or so. A slight indentation marked the place where his face had kissed cement.

"Bastard!" the redhead screamed. "You fouled me just as I was about to make my famous dunk!"

"So?" Kaede raised an eyebrow not refuting Hanamichi's accusation.

The other boy pointed a finger at him.

"Aaah! So you don't deny that you fouled me intentionally!!! You bastard!"

"In a real game that would have been a good foul," Kaede countered calmly as he walked towards their things. "I managed to stop you from making a crucial shot."

"But we weren't playing a real game!" Hanamichi maintained his accusing pose. "And you hit me! You actually hurt me!"

"D'aho," Kaede took out a towel from his bag and wiped his sweaty face and arms. "The purpose of these practices is to prepare you for the real games."

"But—"

"And I didn't hit you," he took out his water bottle and took a grateful gulp. "I just charged you and blocked your body with mine."

"Still—"

"And you've fallen down harder before without complaining," he sat down on the bench which held their bags. "So I don't see any reason for you to be upset now."

As Kaede finished his logical explanations his mind pondered on just how long and how many words he had said in a matter of two minutes. His mind boggled. He was becoming talkative. Still he decided that he had reached his quota of words spoken for the day and he would now shut up.

"Oi Kitsune!"

Then again it was hard not to retaliate to his boyfriend's inane words.

"Just because you won this time doesn't mean that I'll let you do that trick again the next time!"

Kaede nodded as Hanamichi joined him on the bench. Good. The d'aho had learned his lesson. He wouldn't let anyone foul him that way in any future games whether during their one-on-ones or during their school's games. Mission accomplished for the day.

Hanamichi mimicked his earlier movements, got his towel then took out his water bottle. Kaede had to raise an eyebrow as the redhead emptied its contents in one long swig. He tried to ignore the other boy but when Hanamichi took off his shirt, wrung it then put it back on he made an odd strangled noise.

"D'aho."

There goes his promise not to speak anymore.

"Why didn't you bring a bigger bottle? You knew it'd be hot today. And why didn't you bring an extra shirt?"

Hanamichi scratched his head.

"Eh-he-he. I woke up late this morning and just grabbed my bag. I didn't know there wasn't any extra clean shirt in it. And, uhm, this was the only bottle in the fridge this morning. I was supposed to put in the pitcher of water last night but I was too tired so I forgot.

Kaede wanted to laugh at Hanamichi's red face but he just grunted his famous term of endearment.

"D'aho."

"Kitsune! Like you haven't forgotten anything in you whole life! Geez you'd think—"

Hanamichi's rants were interrupted by a piece of cloth flung to his face. He was barely fast enough to catch the bottle that came his way seconds after.

"Eh?"

He looked down at the dry white shirt and cool bottle in his hands.

Kaede's lips lifted at Hanamichi's bewildered expression. He sighed. This was the reason why he always brought extras. His boyfriend could sometimes be so caught up in the moment that the redhead forgot everything else. Kaede had learned that lesson a long time ago.

-End-