A/N: I'm updating this so fast because I want to finish it before school starts. The usual disclaimer applies. Just Review, like it or not, give me a few words, okay? Thank you.

Chapter IV

Youhei's P.O.V.

He watched his best friend on the stage charm the audience with both his moves and his songs. He was fabulous, simply charismatic. But Youhei did not miss the many glances Sakuragi gave Rukawa. Nor did he fail to notice that Sakuragi's smile did not quite reach his eyes. Then, he heard Sakuragi announce that Sendoh Akira was his boyfriend and saw how Sakuragi behaved. He was trying to look lovey-dovey with Sendoh, but Youhei saw the sadness in Sakuragi's eyes as Sakuragi stole a glance at Rukawa as he shared the requested kiss with Sendoh.

He knew something was wrong with Sakuragi the moment Rukawa appeared last night. Now he was sure the Sakuragi was up to something. Having grown up with Sakuragi, Youhei knew the red head inside out. He had observed his best friend the whole night, no matter how normally Sakuragi seemed to other people, Youhei knew Sakuragi was totally out of his character. And that kiss with Sendoh confirmed everything. Sakuragi was not known to display affections publicly, but now he was actually KISSING Sendoh on stage, in front of about eighty people. That was definitely abnormal. With a little thinking and analyzing his best friend's personality and the current situation, the brainy gangster best friend of Sakuragi finally knew what was going on.

Damn that red head! Not only was his hair colour weird, his thinking is weirder. What kind of baka is he? No wonder Rukawa calls him do'aho all the time. He really is. Youhei sighed mentally, he needed to talk to Sakuragi before all three boys get hurt. But first he needed to assure that Rukawa was not really going to give up on Sakuragi for he noticed how crumpled Rukawa looked like as he practically ran out of the clubhouse.

K'so! It's raining and that Rukawa... haiz... Youhei quickly grabbed an umbrella from behind the door and went out quickly.

"Rukawa! Hey Rukawa! Wait, wait for me!" Youhei shouted as he ran towards the lone figure that was walking in the rain. Rukawa was looking so forlorn that Youhei felt that he would definitely break into two, literally, if the wind was any stronger. Youhei shielded the tall boy with his umbrella only to have Rukawa staring at him with a weird look.

"Hey, you'd catch a cold if you wanted a romantic stroll in the rain." Youhei Mito! What are you saying? This is no time to joke. Youhei mentally kicked himself.

"...He... I... we have no more chances of getting back now, do we?" Youhei saw that Rukawa's face was dripping with water, not only with rain water but with water that flowed from the wound deep inside his heart.

"Rukawa... let's get out of the rain first. I know of a nice café that we can go for a talk." Youhei placed a firm hand on Rukawa's arm and guided the dazzled boy along with him. Rukawa was now so devastated that Youhei could easily just bring him to the sea and dump him in without him noticing.

Youhei "wheeled" the brunette to a window sit in the cozy small café and ordered mocha for both of them.

"Drink, it'll warm you up." Youhei gestured to the dejected boy opposite him. But Rukawa just sat there with his head hung low, staring on the floor with eyes that were so sad and cold that it was heartbreaking to look at.

"Look, Rukawa, you cannot give up your love with Hanamichi." Youhei started.

"...What can I do now? What can I do when he told me himself that he does not need me because he's got Sendoh? What can I do? What can I do?!" Rukawa suddenly burst out and sobbed into his hands.

"Ru...Rukawa. Listen, I'm Hanamichi's best friend; I know what he's thinking. He's not in love with Sendoh. He still loves you... a lot. I know, I saw it in his eyes." Youhei paused to make sure that Rukawa was listening to him. He was, so Youhei continued.

"That day you left, it was such a great blow for him, he was devastated and completely closed himself up for almost a week. Even I, his best friend from childhood, could not get him to open up. But Sendoh was there the whole time, he was there and he believed in Hanamichi, helping him to walk out from the darkness. Sendoh knew Hanamichi was still wounded so he never confessed for a long time. Until half a year later, when Hanamichi finally brightened up a bit, Sendoh made his move. He confessed but Hanamichi rejected him. Sendoh was a determined guy so he proposed ever possible moment but Hanamichi never agreed. Hanamichi's still too deeply in love with you to accept anyone else into his heart." Youhei paused again but he could not see Rukawa's face for his head of hung low and his tousled hair acted as a mask.

"But you saw him today..." Rukawa spoke for the first time after the outburst.

"He was putting up a show; maybe Sendoh himself does not even know that Hanamichi was using him for his plan."

"Plan?"

"When you said that you could not maintain the relationship, Hanamichi's trust and faith in you crumbled away, he did not want you to enter his already shattered glass heart anymore. You know he may look tough on the outside, but he actually harbours a fragile heart. He could not take it twice. That's why he chose to close you out."

"..."

"What's more is his pride. He's afraid to admit that he needs you. Also, he thinks that he would be in your way if you two reconcile because then you'll be distracted from your training as he'll need you to be with him occasionally in Japan."

"How's it possible?"

"Not possible? He loves you that he would rather have himself suffer than to be in your way. Love makes anything possible. I don't know how to explain. Listen to this song, Hanamichi made this after you left. I think I've got the recording here." Youhei proceeded to pull out a small MP3 player and gave one of the earphones to Rukawa. Youhei hummed along with the song as he watched the expressions flicked across the face of boy in front of him.

"Isn't life strange?

A total mystery.

As we passed each day,

Did you notice me?

And I know, boy,

You've been looking at me.

And I know now

That you and me were meant to be.

What would it take to realize

That in my heart

No matter what they say.

No matter what they say.

When it comes to love,

Two hearts are inseparable.

No matter what they say.

When it comes to love,

Nothing is impossible.

Walking down that road,

It's coming back to me.

Did you feel it inside,

A thousand memories?

[Chorus]

When it comes to you and me,

There's so much more

Than they can see.

And that's how it's meant to be.

[Chorus]"

"Do'aho..." Rukawa murmured as he pulled the earphone out.

"Indeed, he's a do'aho, but only around you. Please, do not think that Hanamichi does not love you. He's only doing what he thinks is best for you in his own way, though I must agree that it's weird." Youhei said with a small smile.

"What must I do now? He's avoiding me." Rukawa sighed.

"I know of a plan but I'll need to talk to Sendoh first before he sinks any deeper."

------------ The Next Day ------------

"Sendoh!"

"Youhei! Hi! How's your day?" Sendoh beamed as he sat across the dark- haired gangster. "What's that you need to talk to me?"

"Sendoh, Hanamichi agreed to be your boyfriend?" Youhei asked in a serious tone.

"Er... yeah, what's wrong with it?" Sendoh turned serious too.

"When did he do that?"

"Two nights ago, quite late at night."

"Two nights? That's when Rukawa spoke to Hanamichi about their relationship."

"Rukawa? I thought he came back to have a break?" Sendoh frowned.

"He came back for Hanamichi but Hanamichi just went off. And then the next day, you're his boyfriend."

"So?"

"Look Sendoh! You're not dumb; can't you see the sad looks Hanamichi was trying to hide? Can't you see the many depressed looks Hanamichi gave Rukawa? Do you really see love in his eyes when he looks at you?"

"... I know. I know he only wants to show to Rukawa that he's over him but I'm sure that I can really make him love me."

"Sendoh... I know this is not fair for you but... let me explain. Hanamichi will love nobody except Rukawa. He's my best friend, and I know that he gave everything to Rukawa. He's doing this not because he wants to prove that he's over Rukawa. Instead he wants Rukawa to concentrate on his training instead of having a relationship with him and get torn between two places. He'd rather he suffer than to be in Rukawa's way to his dream." Youhei said all this in a breath because he did not want to drag the pain for Sendoh.

"I...what do I have to do to get him back with Rukawa?"

"Sendoh?"

"I know the moment Rukawa's left for US, Hanamichi's gonna break up with me for he had never love me more than a good friend. I want Hanamichi to be happy when Rukawa leave this time. Their love's too deep for me to go between them; I guess my pain will go away eventually... but if I don't help them this time... Hana-chan's pain will never go away. I just hope Hana-chan will still let me call him that. Haha..."

"Sendoh... thank you." Youhei gave a tight smile and proceeded to tell Sendoh his plan.

A/N: ha, finished this chapter! Yeah!! Sorry, all SenHana lovers or Sendoh lovers, sorry to make Sendoh suffer... gomen... anyway, if you hate me for doing that, give me a review! Haha... I'm getting thick-skinned. Oh ya, the song in this chapter is Westlife's "Nothing is Impossible"... I changed the "girl" to "boy"...