Silent Love

By: Kuroi Neko-kun

Summary: Rukawa's mute sister returns to his life after years of separation. With the new school year coming, he expects a better life. Meanwhile, Sakuragi suffers his 51st rejection. To top it off, Haruko rejects him for Megane-kun. But a turn of events made him meet Rukawa Kinaki and finds out about her secrets, giving a chance to make peace with Rukawa. Could this be the ultimate boon or will it turn to something else?

Chapter 7: Making Moves, Right and Wrong

Key:

"Spoken" 

'Sign language' 

Thoughts

'Mental messages'

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Healing was not part of Sakuragi Hanamichi's forte. He itched for something to do as he sat down in his room. His eyes lingered at the undone homework he had before slowly lifting a pen. Soon, the boy was found engrossed in his work that he never registered to the raven haired teammate. Rukawa looked over his shoulder, noticing the history homework the boy was doing and blinked.

"I didn't know that we had homework…" He mumbled. Hanamichi was slightly shocked, rising slightly from his chair.

"Oh, Rukawa…" he muttered," well, this was handed out today. And I had ample time…" Rukawa shrugged, getting to boy to scoot aside. He picked up a stack of papers that had been stapled together.

"So these are the answers?"

"That's the English assignment. You know, we were assigned a book and had to translate three pages from it. I had to look a ton of stuff up for the right words…" He scratched his head. Apparently, he was surprised at how much work he had actually done. Rukawa, on the other hand, had not done any of his homework. Hanamichi realized that he might have accidentally caused Rukawa to panic. Panic and Rukawa… he thought, what an oxymoron.

"I think I'll hit the books now…" Rukawa mumbled.

"You don't have to worry about it, the redhead said," it's due next week." The raven-haired boy allowed a smirk on his face.

"Can't let you beat me in school work," Rukawa said before exiting the room. As soon as he did, Hanamichi turned to his work, noticing something that was not there before. It was a letter. He opened it and found that it as a get well card. Everyone from the team signed it, giving him well wishes and hoped that he would come back to play. He noticed the one that was written on the bottom corner.

"Heal up that leg, do'ahou. It's getting boring here," he read out loud before shaking his head. He smiled before placing the card with its envelope aside. As he did, a note slipped out of it. He picked it up and read it, curious to what it held. As the last word was read, he furrowed his brow, confused and suspicious.

~~~

He waited by the supplies room, like the note said. He read the note again, hoping to find some reason for meeting this person here that does not involve just his curiosity. He sighed after not finding any. It was simple and short. And more like a request from a lady…

"Sakuragi-kun?" he turned to the speaker, realizing it was Haruko. What is she doing here?

"Yo, Haruko-san," he mumbled, acknowledging her. She smiled.

"So you got my note?" His eyes nearly bulged. It was Haruko that requested him to meet her? But why? Good question… the redhead thought. Haruko glanced around before coming surprisingly close to him.

"There's something…" she mumbled," I want to tell you…"

"Is it about practice?" he asked, inching away for some personal space. Haruko was acting differently around him. She shook her head before giggling.

"I broke up with Kiminobu-san," she said, waiting for his reaction. He did not have any to give. But his mind was suddenly racing with thoughts. Could he have her now? But why not then?

"And?" he asked. She took his hand in response, causing him to unconsciously blush. His heart was beating with trepidation. The back of his mind screamed to let her hand go. But, like he said himself, old wounds heal slowly. He still had feelings for her, Akagi Haruko. She touched his face and his immediate reaction was to flinch. There was something else that his mind was reminding him. Something he had to remember but all he could think of was the girl in front of him. They were so close together that they could kiss… Something caused a snap in his mind. He knew it was a gasp but only he could hear it. He turned to his side and saw the raven-haired girl with tears at the corner of her eyes. She blinked and they streaked down her lovely cheeks.

"Kinaki-san…" He forgot her. And she knew. She could read minds. That instance he forgot, she knew. She turned and ran from them. Without thinking, he chased after her, leaving Haruko behind. "Kinaki-san!" He knew that he loved her. A lot. But he was going to blow it. Everything that had gone right for him now was going to go away… if he does not make it right with Kinaki.

~~~

She ran. Her mind filled with only one thought, Sakuragi-san had forgotten her. Oh, how stupid can one get? The prospect of love is something that a person like me cannot have… She ran instinctively to the gym, where her brother was practicing alone. He was shocked when she started bawling in his arms, not even calming down. He wanted her to talk but she could not speak.

"Kinaki-chan…" he mumbled, rubbing her back. If she does not calm down, he could not do anything. "Now, it's okay. Calm down and tell onii-chan everything, " he soothed her. She hiccoughed before telling him in the only way she could: sign language. She knew that if she used her mind projection, her brother might see more than he wanted to. Once she was done, she hugged her brother, hoping and wishing that he would not do anything rash. But he was already glaring at the person in question. "Sakuragi," he muttered. The redhead remembered that look. He'd seen it all the time a year ago. He never minded it then. Now, it hurt to see that face again. Rukawa was about to advance on him but Kinaki tugged at his sleeve and shook her head. She gave a small glance to Hanamichi but it was so cold that he actually shivered. He wanted to reach out, call them back. He couldn't. He couldn't do anything else but watch them go, as well as his hopes of a better life.

~~~

When the head of the household came home that day, he knew that there was a change in the house. He felt it running through the once-again silent home. No laughter or joy, just like how it was with him and Kaede only. Something was wrong. Instinct told him to head for the daughter but he stopped when he reached her room and turned to the one opposite hers. Hanamichi was unexceptionally quiet today. And even at this time, he should be home sans sprained ankle. He knocked on the boy's door. After a few moments, the door was opened, revealing a guilt-ridden boy. Rukawa-san could tell. After all, he was once a boy too.

"Now, what's with the silence, Hanamichi-kun?" Rukawa-san had preferred to call the redhead that. He had said once his father called him that and how he enjoyed them.

"It's nothing, Rukawa-san," the boy mumbled. The older man examined the boy before giving up. If the boy wanted to talk, he would know that he was welcome to. It was exactly what he told Hanamichi who nodded. Shrugging, Rukawa-san headed for the door.

"Err… Rukawa-san… Maybe there is something that I need advice to." The man smiled, closing the door behind him.

"Okay… talk."

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