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 8: Divine Interventions
Key:
"Spoken"
'Sign language'
Thoughts
'Mental messages'
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He listened to the boy, finally understanding the reasons to the sudden silence in the house. Hanamichi explained a situation that involved his friend and it sounded vaguely familiar. Towards the end, he understood it all. Hanamichi [or should we say 'The Friend'] was in love with a girl before. He got dumped and was feeling low. After making a friend [he assumed was his silent-as-a-ghost son], he started falling for his sister. Rukawa-san was not shocked of this. His father-scope picked up some pheromones when the two were around each other. At least, it's Hanamichi. He was, after all, a good, well-natured boy who was kept under surveillance twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week by Rukawa-san. But things had gone wrong. The girl wanted Hanamichi back. And the other girl found out and ran to her brother. Now, her brother is angry with him without hearing Hanamichi's explanations. He knew that his son is an idiot at times, but this is ridiculous. Hanamichi is now feeling a guilt that does not belong to him. It should be the girl's. Rukawa-san could not say much except…
"It's all up to your friend's heart. If he loves the girl, he would know what to do… by now." With that, the older man left, giving something for the young boy to mope about.
---
Practice was not jolly at all for Rukawa as he was alone in the gym. His mind was still thinking about Kinaki's tears and Hanamichi… actions. It made his blood boil to think that the guy who made his sister cry was living under the same roof as them. He slammed the ball into the hoop and watched it bounce a few times before rolling to a stop. Everything that happened was a mistake. He should not have accepted the idiot's friendship. He should not care about him. Why did he? Was it sympathy? Rukawa was about to walk to pick up the orange ball when someone spoke to him.
"He's not at fault, you know." He whirled to see Youhei smirking at him.
"Here to make a case? Or to protect that friend of yours?" Rukawa hated the tone of his voice. It was too cold.
"Not at all. But you should have listened to the whole story before judging anything," as the boy spoke he walked towards Rukawa and took the ball. "He does love Kinaki-san."
"Then, why not tell her?" Youhei threw a fluke shot. It missed.
"Have you ever tried to tell a girl how you feel about her?" Rukawa pondered at the thought before shaking his head. "Believe me, it's not easy…"
"I guess so…" he picked up the ball and shot. It easily went into the hoop.
"Then give the boy a chance. We all know how they feel about each other…" A smile etched on Youhei's face.
"Fine, I'll give that do'ahou a chance." The boy left, letting the taller boy resume practice.
---
She sat on the bench, observing the players like Ayako had asked her to. She found it rather redundant as they already know the players' strengths and weaknesses. But Ayako insisted and she did. The woman in question came up to her, taking a seat beside her.
"Do you realize what you have caused?" Haruko blinked before looking at her senior. The curly haired manager stared intently at the game; her eyes fell on Rukawa, who she noticed played rigorous than usual. "Do you realize what you have caused?" She repeated.
"Cause what?"
"Sakuragi has gotten over you, Haruko. You were too late to get him into your life. It's not my business about your life, don't ruin his," she muttered.
"I'm trying to correct a mistake." The manager laughed cynically.
"No, Haruko," she said with a cold smile," you're just making more."
"But I…" she drifted off. Ayako lifted a brow in curiosity. "I love him."
"And he doesn't anymore." Haruko shot the girl a look. "You had your chance and you obviously wasted it."
"So my feelings don't count?"
"Have you ever thought about his?" Ayako watched her comprehend her sentence. Obviously, this girl had been thinking about herself nowadays: An effect of not having her big brother around. She finally shook her head. "You dumped him, Haruko. He was heartbroken and after what he had done for, I'm surprised he still admits you as a friend. Now, you want him?" Haruko's glare surprised her slightly. Ayako knew there was something else behind this.
"Yes, I do. Nobody else can have him." Ayako's eyes became slits, returning the glare.
"You knew about Kinaki-chan."
"Of course. Anybody with a pair of eyes knew they liked each other. I just couldn't have that—"
"It was a statement, not a question," Ayako snapped, not standing for any more of this girl's deceit. How could she—? Ayako was still silently suffering from shock of knowing the girl's other side.
"Ayako-san, if I can't have Sakuragi, nobody—" For the second time, Haruko was cut into her sentence, this time by a slap… from Rukawa Kinaki.
"Kinaki-chan?" Ayako's words were echoed by her brother's. He had stopped upon seeing his sister and he sensed trouble. Haruko turned her glare to Kinaki, still cupping her slapped cheek. The raven-haired girl stood there.
"I told you before, I won't allow Sakuragi-san to be hurt by the likes of you." Haruko was still puzzled by the words in her head. She had a feeling it was from Kinaki. But the girl never spoke.
"Kinaki-chan…" Rukawa had heard it, being fully adjusted to her powers. He placed his hands on her shoulders, squeezing it gently. "Let's go. You've done enough." Haruko felt that Rukawa registered those words to her. He picked up his bag and ushered his sister away.
---
"You read her mind, didn't you?" Rukawa asked as they walked down the street towards the Rukawa Mansion. The younger girl nodded slowly, feeling the anger, frustration and guilt rebuild itself in her heart. Who would have thought a sweet girl like her could be so… obsessive.
"What am I going to do?" Rukawa smiled at her.
"What else can you do?" That was a very good question. She shrugged, not knowing. Rukawa just ruffled her hair affectionately. "Let your heart decide, Kinaki-chan." She smiled back.
---
He came out of Kinaki's room, only to bump into Benibana-san who was smiling at him. Hanamichi bowed to the butler, blushing profusely from being caught.
"A gentleman should never enter a lady's room without her permission," he wagged his finger at the redhead.
"But I… I had to place a note for her. I'll be out for awhile, Benibana-san…" A comprehended look was on the butler's face. He knew what goes on around here the most. And the orange rose in Lady Kinaki's room had proved him right. He never thought of such a perfect match in his life, now he believed in it. That was before trouble came, brewing its storms.
"Ah, yes… Will I be expecting Lady Kinaki chasing after you once you leave?" Hanamichi was now the ultimate tomato.
"Gomen…"
"Well, this is not my business but please try to take care of yourself." A mischievous smile was etched on the butler's lips. Hanamichi grinned.
"I will."
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