Disclaimer: I don't own Slam Dunk, it's Takehiko-sensei's.

Room #7: Troublesome Night

*rrang! Rrang!*

"Hold your horses!...H'loo?"

"How's Kaede?"

"Ah! Kazami." Shiramori grinned to hear his ex-wife on the line, "What's wrong?"

"He hasn't called me. It's been a week. I want to know how he's doing with the inn."

"He said he's doing well. Actually he changed it into a dormitory."

"Aw! How could he didn't tell me about it! Hearing you inherited him an inn was shocking enough!"

"Still thinking that he cheated, huh?' Shiramori laughed.

Kazami mumbled something. Maybe actually she was grumbling.

"Kazami, are you still insisting to engage Kaede?" now Shiramori sounded serious.

"Yes. And what about you? Still disagree?"

"Yeah.any chance you're thinking to cancel your bet?"

"Nope. I want my Kaede to live a decent life."

"But, Kazami."

"I know, I know.he's a man, he can decide what he wants, bla-bla-bla.but can you at least see through my point of view?"

"What point of view?"

"Shiramori, he's so YOU! He's careless, ignoring, pointless, he lives each day without any plan for the next day. No offense, but I don't want him to end up like you!"

Shiramori smiled, "So, actually the goal is not to engage him, right?"

"..."

"I understand. I'm sure Kaede will learn a lot from his experience living by himself right now. You're a very thoughtful mother, Kazami."

"Shut up." Kazami pouted blushing.

"I'll tell Kaede to call you sometime. Are you sure you don't want his number?"

"Mm.no, I want him to call me."

"Okay then."

"Bye."

*click*

Still smiling, Shiramori put the phone back to its cradle, "You are the right mother for him, Kazami."

--------------------------

That night at the 'Rukawa Inn' (which is no longer an inn), Kaede and Kiyota were watching a horror movie.

"Aargh!" Kaede scratched his head.

"The scary part hasn't come up yet, Rukawa. Don't scream now," Kiyota stared at the TV screen without blinking.

"Not that! It's not half of the month yet, but my cash is beginning to thin out!"

"Wow.pity you."

"Could you pay your next month rent-money now, Kiyota?"

"What!? No way!!" Kiyota turned to Kaede.

"Anyway, I was wondering.you're running away from home aren't you? But where do you get your income? I don't see you taking any part time job."

"I'm a rich boy and I got a lot of savings," Kiyota replied staring at the TV screen again.

"Could I borrow some to pay the bills?"

"No."

"Cheap."

"Poor."

*knock-knock*

"Get the door, Kiyota."

"No way! I'm not your servant!"

"But, I'm your landlord."

"I'll give you 2000 yen if you get the door, Rukawa."

"I'm not your butler."

Still staring at the TV, kiyota waved two pieces of 1000 yen bill. Kaede grabbed it and went to the door.

*knock-knock*

"Okay, okay, hold on." Kaede opened the door.

"Kogure?"

Kogure stood in front of Kaede. His smile looked helpless, "I need a room."

Kaede glanced at a huge luggage beside Kogure.

"Uh, you mean it? I mean, your house is in town, why would you want."

"Please, Rukawa."

Kaede observed Kogure's face. He looks like needing a pat on the back.

"Come on in."

"Rukawa, you missed the part where the maniac slayed-.Oh, another customer?"

Kiyota grinned to Kaede with Kogure behind him.

"He's my sempai," Kaede replied.

"Nice to meet you," Kogure smiled to Kiyota.

"The pleasure is mine," Kiyota grinned, "Wanna watch horror movie?"

"Maybe later," Kogure still smiled. An obvious helpless smile to Kaede.

"You can pick any room upstairs," Kaede took Kogure to the stairs.

After choosing a room beside Kiyota's, Kogure asked politely to Kaede who was ready to interrogate him to leave.

"Are you okay, Kogure?"

"Yeah, please don't ask anything right now. See you tomorrow at school," Kogure smiled and closed the door before Kaede.

"Rukawa, you missed the part where the old lady chopped-.eew, what's with your face?"

"I'm a little worried about Kogure," Kaede mumbled.

"Your sempai?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know you know anything about caring people," Kiyota said carelessly chewing his pop corn.

Kaede muttered.

*knock! knock!*

"What now? Kiyota, if you give me 4000 yen, I'll get the door."

Kiyota quickly stood up and went to the front door.

"Cheap." Kaede murmured.

*knock! Knock!*

"Easy." Kiyota opened the door.

"Konbanwa, Nobu," a tall boy appearde in front of Kiyota. His face seemed a little upset.

"A-aniki?" Kiyota gaped.

"I thought instead of sending Yamane, I'm the one who should come for you."

"Uh-umm." Kiyota looked a bit scared.

"Who is it, Kiyota?" Kaede appeared behind Kiyota, "Ah. Are you looking for a room?" Kaede asked the tall boy.

"Who is he, Kiyota?" the boy ased Kiyota.

"He's."

"Who are YOU?" Kaede stepped forward annoyed by the question.

"He's my aniki (=big brother), Rukawa."

"Oh." meanwhile Kaede was thinking why everybody related to Kiyota has a very minor knowledge about manners.

"If you want to talk to Kiyota, you can talk inside," Kaede said.

"I'm not here to talk. I want to bring him home."

"Aniki, I want to stay here."

"I'm not asking what you want."

"Whoaa..you haVe to be easy to your brother,' Kaede spoke.

"Stay out of this, okay?" This is a family business. Pack your back, Nobu, we're leaving."

Kiyota stood still, looked reluctant and anxious.

"Nobu."

"If he says he's staying, he's staying," Kaede put his hand on Kiyota's shoulder.

"I said stay out of this."

"He doesn't want to go with you."

"It's not for him to decide."

"Are you really his brother?"

"Rukawa, it's okay," Kiyota pushed back Kaede mildly, "Aniki, I'm not going with you right now. But I promise I'll come home tomorrow after school. You can have my word."

Kiyota's brother stared at him, "Okay, I trust you. But I hope you won't change your mind right after I turned my back," he glanced at Kaede.

"I promise, aniki."

"Konbanwa," then he turned to leave.

"What a jerk," Kaede mumbled ready to close the door. Suddenly Kiyota's brother turned back.

"What's you name?" he asked Kaede.

"What's yours?" Kaede asked back.

"I'm Sakuragi Hanamichi. I must warn you, if you try to interfere with things that are none of your concern, you'll get more than you expected."

"The name's Rukawa kaede. To be honest, I don't really care about people's business, but sometimes I just can't help myself to meddle everytime I see a jerk like you bullying someone else."

Both Kaede and Sakuragi glared at each other.

"Konbanwa, Nobu," Sakuragi turned again and this time left for good.

"Sigh.Is he really your brother, Kiyota?" His family name differs to yours."

"He IS my brother." Kiyota mumbled and left to his room.

Kaede stared at Kiyota's back, and then he closed the door.

*tbc*