Part 6: Obligation
3:00 p.m. in the park basketball court:
Sweating profusely, Rukawa Kaede jumped to make a powerful dunk when... "AAAAHHHH!! What's happening?!...my soul....my soul's being sucked away!!!" Startled, the brunette sidetracked in the middle of his leap to check on the screaming redhead...and crashed right into the basketball frame. To his utter agitation, he heard peals of uncontrollable laughter when he hit the ground on his back.
"Ha ha ha...never imagined I'd ever get YOU distracted from a shot, fox?! Don't worry; I've banged my head on the frame once...when I was just a damn novice!!"
F---ing do'aho...actually had me worried for that moment! The raven head hurled his basketball at the hysterical figure with all his might, knowing perfectly well it would fly through the moron harmlessly. For the last hour of practice, Rukawa had to endure every second of the blaring, boisterous tensai song. He managed not to let it affect his play, though his head was about to burst with irritation. Maybe he should've just taken off the amulet...but was too paranoid of it being stolen by those neighborhood junkies. "Had enough, Rukawa? Maybe you should consider complying with my wish now." Smirking victoriously, the redhead walked towards the raven head and squatted beside him. Before they left the house that morning, Sakuragi insisted that Rukawa follow his altered 'obligation'...since there was no way he can stay out of the redhead's face now.
Flashback:
Mopping his face with a towel, Rukawa emerged from the shower room. 1 p.m.... 10 hours of sleep. Good, his sleeping cycle is finally back to normal. He was about to pick up his gym bag and basketball, when Sakuragi spoke up.
"Where do you think you're going, fox? I've been trapped watching you drool all night, and now I'm forced to see you display your useless basketball skills all day?" The boy questioned, sitting on the side of his bed.
"As I said, I won't let your existence bother me."
Aggravated, the redhead sprung to his feet. "I hate to bring this up again, but I did lose my life saving yours! And my sacrifice is going to waste, seeing how you insist on living your dull, routine life!"
"Do'aho, you don't know yourself what defines a life meaningful...so just shut up."
Grrr...just gonna ignore me, eh?! Well, we'll see about that, fox!
End of flashback
Rukawa got up to his feet, and started to pack his gym bag. "Hey, Rukawa...are you serious...the tensai has actually dissuaded you from playing?!" The raven head ignored him with a sullen silence. The redhead's feeling of triumph suddenly transformed into guilt as he realized something. He got distracted only because...he was worried that something may have really happened to me? No way...that selfish fox would've been rejoicing inside! But still, I think I've gone a little overboard this time...
"Hey Rukawa...don't be such a poor sport, fox!" The raven head still acted as if he hadn't heard. Sakuragi was getting a little anxious. Oh shit...I really pissed him off now, and I'm not even able to savor the moment! Wait. I got an idea... "Listen, Rukawa...I promise if you do as I want today, I'll never bother you during your play OR your nap..." Rukawa finally paused. And let him live his utterly boring life afterwards. I'll bet I'm gonna regret being so nice...
"What do you propose?" came the toneless inquiry.
"Mmm...let me think..." the redhead pondered. Just what are the things that'll show that fox how to make his totally meaningless life meaningful? Aha! I've got it!! I'm the most brilliant tensai in the whole world! Heh heh heh...and with luck, we'll bump into Haruko chan, too. This'll most certainly dissuade her from her wrongful crush on the fox!!
"Now listen closely, Rukawa..." As the raven head listened, he couldn't suppress a deep sigh. Is that do'aho serious?! Now I really regret that he saved my life...
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Inside the sports equipment store, Miyagi Ryota and the two basketball mangeresses were seen ordering new basketballs for their team.
"That redhead's death has sure traumatized Rukawa a little too excessively." Miyagi suddenly commented, sighing. "I think he's trying to be Hanamichi now..."
Ayako turned to him. "What do you mean, Ryota?"
"When I was passing by the district shopping mall, I saw Rukawa...believe it or not, playing pachinko; and he was apparently with one of Sakuragi's former crushes, Nishida Momoko."
"Pachinko? With that self-centered bitch Nishida? Get out, Ryota...you must've seen someone else! You know Rukawa, there's no way he's that pathetic..." A pink-colored purse dropped to the floor.
"Rukawa kun...with Nishida san...?" Haruko had turned a little pale, and was trembling slightly.
"Hey...don't worry, Haruko! I'm sure Ryota's just mistaken...!" Ayako hastily tried to comfort her.
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Meanwhile, in the District Mall
A tall brunette stood in front of the men's room sink, washing off what appeared to be an ice cream cone shoved in his face.
"I can't believe how stupid you are, Rukawa! You never, ever say anything negative about a girl's looks, especially on a date!"
He grabbed a paper towel and dried off his face. "What did you expect me to do, do'aho? She was trying to put her mouth on mine..."
"That was a kiss, you total moron! How clueless can you be about romance?! It's the most freaking important part of a date..."
"I know what it is, do'aho." He replied as they exited into the mall.
"And to think I recommended one of the finest girls I know to you..." Although she's the only one out of my fifty one rejections who's conceited and has an attitude problem...huh, I thought she and Rukawa would get along since they have so much in common.
Sakuragi drew in his breath. "You're beyond help to get a life, fox, even with a tensai like me trying to guide you. To you, anything but basketball and sleeping is a waste of your time."
"...the movie and pachinko weren't too bad."
The redhead looked up. "You mean you actually had fun?! I'd thought you'd sleep through that mushy romantic stuff..."
"I said they weren't too bad." Then, "The 'date' is over, right? Now, can I get back to...?"
"Hell no, fox!" The redhead scowled. "You're gonna finish what I've so painstakingly planned for this date, even if it means doing everything alone...!"
"Ano...Rukawa kun." A familiar feminine voice softly interrupted. Huh? Haruko chan?! What is she...!
"I don't mean to pry...but Miyagi san saw you with Nishida san. I...I...he told me you two were heading this direction..." She looked down, blushing.
Rukawa's eyed her impatiently. "What do you want?"
Face red as a beet, she stared at her feet. "I know this may be inappropriate, but I cannot keep it to myself any longer. I—I like you Rukawa kun...the first moment I ever laid eyes on you." She managed in a timid whisper.
NOOOOO!! The redhead clutched his head, shaking it furiously. Even after seeing that fox with another girl, she...!!
The tall brunette narrowed his eyes. "Do you know Sakuragi Hanamichi liked you just as much...if not more?" he questioned, a hint of seriousness in his voice. That made the redhead freeze. Did he hear that question right?
The petite girl's head shot up, and regarded the raven head in plain surprise, but then looked back down again. "Yes, I actually do...Ayako san finally told me a long time ago; she just couldn't resist anymore..." Haruko suddenly grabbed Rukawa's sleeves, and fixed her anxiously pleading eyes onto his. "But that does not change my feelings for you! Sakuragi kun has always been a good friend, but I'll never feel the same way towards anyone like I do to you, Rukawa kun!"
Lost in her aspiration, the brown-haired girl was clueless of a transparent being taking in every word of her confession...looking on with a pained expression. Haruko...you knew perfectly well, yet said nothing to me...? What am I to you, exactly?
Rukawa shot her a cold glare and yanked his sleeves out of her grip. He turned his back to her, but didn't walk away. "If there was a way to talk to the deceased Sakuragi Hanamichi, would you be willing to try?" The raven head slowly reached for the amulet hidden beneath his dress shirt. Sakuragi stared, dumfounded. Rukawa, you...
Confused filled her face. What an odd question! "I...I don't know. But to tell you the truth, I don't think I'd have the right to." She looked away in shame. "There is not one day that I prayed thanks that your life was spared, even at the cost of Sakuragi kun's..." At last, the truth. The simple, ruthless truth. Rukawa cringed inwardly, not knowing how the redhead would take it.
The two were silent for a moment. Finally, the tall brunette spoke. "...you can stop praying now."
She set her eyes on him again. "Rukawa kun..."
"I don't have feelings for you or Nishida, or any girl I know. I never had, and there's no way I ever will. For your own sake, stop dwelling in the blind hopefulness like Sakuragi Hanamichi once did." He said non-too gently, yet the coldness had left his voice.
For a moment, Akagi Haruko remained speechless. Then tears started to fall from her hidden eyes, and a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "I see...so that's it, isn't it? Your tone tells me more than your words." She lifted her tear-stained face; in her eyes, Sakuragi could see disappointment, hurt, and...resignation. "Thank you for stating your true feelings, Rukawa kun...it's probably the kindest thing you've done for me so far. I'll...see you in practice next week." She turned away and slowly disappeared from their sight.
Sakuragi watched the disappearing figure with a blank expression. Haruko chan...she knew all along. And with all the kindness we shared between us, I still could not beat down her feelings for the guy she hardly talks to. He felt an overwhelming rush of sadness and defeat, just like his rejected crush...but also a strange sense of freedom. And unbelievably, the relief was overpowering his pain...
"Let's go, do'aho...get this damn 'date' over and done with." Rukawa cut into his thoughts.
"Oh...okay." The redhead replied in an absent-minded voice. He was just about to follow the raven head, when his vision suddenly blurred. The mall surroundings transformed into a children's playground, all empty except for...himself and Haruko, standing face to face in front of the setting sun.
"I'm sorry, Hana kun...but I think it's time for us to break up." The young girl whispered softly.
"D—do what you think is best, Haruko." He could see himself trying to fight back his tears. "Just know that I will always love you, no matter who you choose to be with."
Haruko let out a sob. "I'm the one being selfish, Hana kun. You've been the most wonderful, caring boyfriend...but I cannot live like this, loving someone else so deeply." She tiptoed and kissed Sakuragi lightly...on his lips. "You'll always have a special place in my heart, too." The brown- haired girl squeezed his hand briefly, then dropped it as she turned away to leave.
"Do'aho, are you coming or not?" What the...? Eyes squeezed shut, the redhead shook his head. When he reopened them, he was back in the mall, with Rukawa giving him an annoyed stare.
Sakuragi placed a hand on his forehead. "She...Haruko chan...my girlfriend...?" he muttered incredulously.
The raven head knitted his eyebrows. "What the hell are you talking about, do'aho?"
"N...nothing you'd understand, fox." He hoped he didn't sound as dazed as he felt. What is going on? "Let's go."
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8:00 p.m. at Danny's
Girls from different tables could not help fix a lovesick stare at the tall, gorgeous young brunette sitting alone at the corner booth. Their dates were frustratingly trying to win back their attention. A sexy dark haired waitress approached the lone boy with his order. "Whoever decided to skip out this date on you must be a total moron, kiddo." Then she gave him a suggestive wink. "But some of us here appear to be much smarter than that. We really should get together sometime..." She murmured in a low, seductive tone.
Rukawa shot a disgusted glare at her. No more...it's been bad enough a day already. "Then I'd be that total moron." He said flatly.
Her eyes widened with anger at his reaction. "Fine. Stay there and rot, for all I care, you bastard!" she almost snapped, and stomped away.
Rukawa started to graze on his fries. Sitting across from him, Sakuragi shook his head. "You're really wasting your girl magnet potential, Rukawa. Have you ever liked someone in your whole life?"
Rukawa didn't stop munching. "One."
Sakuragi chortled with skepticism. "Hah. Really. And just who could be so (un)fortunate as to..."
"My fifth grade teach, Ms. Miyama." He answered promptly.
The redhead sat straight up immediately. "What...your teacher?!" God, he's been a freak ever since he was in elementary school...
The brunette frowned disapprovingly. "What's wrong with that, do'aho? She was only twenty-one, and at that time, yet knew no better than a thirteen year old. Way too naïve." Like you.
"Oh." Sakuragi said, somewhat guiltily at his prejudgment. "Well...what attracted you to her? Was she that pretty?"
"Not really. Just that she took the time to truly listen and understand my problems, unlike other people around me."
"Uhm..." the redhead didn't know what to say or think for a minute. So the fox did have his soft spots after all...though they're probably extinct by now. "So...have you ever told her how you felt? Did you ever see her again??" he asked with immense curiosity.
This time the raven head paused his grazing. "No." came the plain reply.
"Hey, why not?! If she was that close to you...!"
"She misled me into thinking the feeling was reciprocal. Only at the very end of the school year was she compelled to admit it didn't run deeper than compassion for her." It was the first time I'd ever thrown a bitter tantrum right in the classroom, breaking desks and chairs...that woman did not stop me, overridden by guilt. It was damn childish...yet I could not stop myself, could not bear that feeling of being deceived and betrayed again. Huh...out of all people, I'm exposing so much of my hidden weakness to the idiot who looks down on me the most. I'll bet he's itching to scoff at me now...
But Sakuragi remained wordless, and there was no hint of condescendence on his deeply pondering expression. Finally, he asked softly, "What about Haruko chan, Rukawa? She's the sweetest and most understanding girl I know...and she likes you. Why didn't you give her a chance to know you, to share your problems with her..."
The brunette's eyes suddenly glinted with unknown resentment before he brought his hand non-too gently onto the table top. He leaned forward, suddenly glaring harshly at the redhead. "You don't know anything, do'aho..."
Taken aback, Sakuragi cried, "Hey, what's your damn problem, fox?! There's nothing to be offended about...!"
The raven head locked his piercing gaze onto the redhead's eyes, determined to make him understand just how wrong he was. "However kind-hearted that Akagi girl may be, she'll offer nothing but that same surfeit pity! I don't need anyone to feel sorry for me!" he spat bitterly.
Instead of fervently taking umbrage at Rukawa's harsh words like he was bound to, Sakuragi stared back steadily, eyes surprisingly cleared of any anger. Then he murmured, "You don't think anyone in the whole world can understand your pain, right fox? That's why you'd rather keep it to yourself, and dwell in self-pity."
A staggering look flashed in the raven head's eyes, quickly to be replaced by a fuming anger. He pursed his lips tightly. "What kind of crap..." he started.
Sakuragi stood up, his own eyes flaming. "What's wrong, Rukawa, can't handle the simple truth?! Seems like some overly conceited wimp's trying to escape from reality!" he yelled vehemently, yet there was no disdain in his voice.
"Shut the hell up!!" Rukawa grabbed his cola glass and threw it where Sakuragi was standing. The glass shattered onto the wooden seat, jolting the brunette back to his senses. I...just lost control of myself, because of that do'aho's words...? He realized in disbelief. For a moment, he just stood there, panting heavily, staring at the broken glass.
Then someone tapped him on the shoulder. It was the head waiter. "Sir...your behavior has been rather intolerable for the last thirty minutes. I'm afraid we must ask you to leave." Rukawa glanced at the waiter, his expression had reverted back to its emotionless. He took out two thousand yen and tossed it onto the table.
"Hey Rukawa..." the redhead caught up with the unheeding brunette.
Rukawa didn't turn around. "Get out of my face, do'aho." Came the cold reply.
Sakuragi stopped in his tracks, feeling himself tense with anger. "You disappoint me, fox...I'd never thought someone like you'd give me the chance to say so." He looked down, an unnerving calmness overtaking his features. "At first, I swore to die before admitting this...but now it doesn't seem to matter. I...you were one of the people I've always admired most, Rukawa...your skills, your cool, imperturbable demeanor, even...even your physical attractiveness." He knew he was strangling his dignity at this point, but what the heck...he just had to let it out.
The raven head paused as Sakuragi continued. "All those taunts were just out of jealousy. Not due to the attention you were getting, but because...I wanted to be like you. I used to have dreams before that Toyotama match, that you'd respect me enough to pass me the ball willingly..." He turned back the ravenhead, eyes blazing. "Who'd ever imagine in that in reality, Rukawa Kaede is nothing but a self-pitying brat who denies his own emotions, who tries to act like he's tougher than anyone else?! I may've cried more than anyone else on the team, fox, but that doesn't shame me one bit! At least I'll always be honest about my true feelings!"
Sakuragi was too preoccupied with his outburst to notice that the tall brunette had stiffened his back, quivering slightly with some unknown emotion.
"When I was seven years old...my mother died, and my dad had no choice but to send me into this...run down education camp. There was no room for fairness in that hell hole, let alone sympathy. This group of obscenely rich fifth graders...real little scumbags...was sent there for day care because they were vile beyond reform. Do you know the kind of sick stuff they did?! They beat one helpless little girl to death, forced us to turn against each other! And the caretakers did absolutely nothing, cause their parents paid them plenty to cover up any of the misdeeds."
The redhead stopped briefly, clenching his fist as he recalled the hateful memories. "Believe me, I so wanted to do nothing, sit around and cry for okasan all day and night...no one around me would give a shit. But I knew she loves me, and that was enough for me to move on. So, I learned to survive, to fight everyone, even the counselors. After three years, my dad finally took me away. I never told him of the horrors I encountered in that place...not because I refused sympathy, but because I didn't want him to grieve more than he had to."
"But I couldn't stop fighting with that violent aggression I learned...don't think I ever will; and oyajii died because of it. Until Youhei came by...I'd never thought I could ever trust, or even forgive the world that kept on taking my loved ones away from my side..."
Finally done with his monologue, Sakuragi wearily spun around. "If I didn't have people whom I loved back, maybe I'd end up just like you, Rukawa." He sighed, then quietly asked "You want me out of your sight? Throw away that thing around your neck."
The redhead silently began to walk the other direction, when Rukawa turned to him. "...right." He said in a soft whisper.
Sakuragi froze in his tracks. "...what?"
"You're right. About everything." The redhead turned, and was unprepared to see that vulnerability again, starkly displayed in those fox-like eyes. "I...want you to stay." The brunette almost stuttered, still unaccustomed to swallowing his pride in such a way. After a moment, he added hesitantly, "Please."
The two did nothing but stare, not knowing what else to do. Then Rukawa reached his arm out towards the redhead, slightly beckoning to him. And as if by instinct rather than conscious will, the redhead turned and walked in his direction.
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Meanwhile, in the public library, Mito Youhei's eyes meticulously scanned all the book titles on the shelf. Religious miracles...voodoo...black magic...aha, guide to psychic powers! He slid the book out, and started flipping through it. Huh? Why are there so many words I don't know in here? God, just to make things more difficult...
"Psychic stuff, huh? My big sister used to be really into that." A perky male voice rang out behind him.
Youhei turned around, his eyes widening slightly. "You're...Ryonan's Sendoh Akira!"
Slightly confused, the spiky haired player frowned. "Excuse me, do I know you? But you do look somewhat familiar..."
The shorter brunette gave him a friendly grin. "Yeah, you might know me, but not personally...I'm Sakuragi Hanamichi's friend, Mito Youhei. I was there during that practice match, remember?"
Recognition suddenly flashed on Sendoh face. "Oh yeah...I remember now." Then he threw his head back and laughed. "You were one of those comedians in the audience trying to stir up chaos, huh? Good way to make an impression!"
Youhei scrunched up his face, slightly offended. "...comedians?"
Seeing that the librarians were throwing him dirty looks, Sendoh quickly controlled himself. "Ahh...sorry about that. So, what's up with this psychic stuff?" turned back to the shorter boy curiously.
"Oh...um nothing. It just sparked my interest all of the sudden. But these damn books are so hard to read, I doubt I'd get anywhere." He replied, disheartened.
Sendoh put a hand on his shoulder. "Maybe I can help...my sister was kind of an expert on that stuff, and she did tell me some interesting things; one I found most intriguing was that there's a type of psychic that can actually induce time travel of some sort. But they're extremely rare, and most of the time, kind of freakish."
Youhei gave him a look. "Time...travel?"
Sendoh stared at the ceiling, momentarily lost in thought. "Freakish, but supposedly good-hearted; they try to use their power to right people's wrongs, say, by going into the past or future to change someone's fate. At least that's what my sister read." then he sighed with a smile. "Of course, I've never taken it seriously. It's just like superstition to me, and I don't buy that crap."
Very interesting indeed...but doesn't seem relevant to what I'm looking for. "Did your sister tell you anything about psychics reviving people in some way?" Youhei asked, somewhat hopefully.
The spikey haired boy rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Ummm...nope, never heard of such thing. However, she mentioned that those very rare ones are able to preserve the life of a dying person in some uncanny way...and even give a non- psychic the ability to pass around their psychic powers."
Youhei's face fell. Kimura was telling the truth, then...it's impossible to bring Hana back to life? No, I can't give up yet! If not by psychic power, there may be some other way...and whatever Sendoh's saying may not be accurate anyway!
"Don't think there's anything useful I can find in here anyways." Youhei said, grabbing his book bag. "Well, thanks for your help, Sendoh. Good luck with whatever you're researching." He was about to exit when Sendoh grabbed his shoulder again. He turned to see a solemn sincerity on his senior's usually flippant face.
"Before you leave, I want to tell you I'm sorry about your friend Sakuragi, Mito. It seemed you two were very close."
Surprised, Youhei demanded, "Who told you about the incident? Our school took very stringent means to suppress the news from leaking out..."
Sendoh smiled apologetically. "Remember our nosy little manager, Aida Hikoichi? Well, nothing that happens in the Kanagawa district highs doesn't go by him. Hope you don't hold any grudges against the kid, he was extremely unhappy for Sakuragi, too." Then he gave his upset junior a reassuring look. "Don't worry, he and I promise to keep this news between us two."
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11:00 p.m. in the city park:
Strolling aimlessly around the playground, the two rivals hadn't spoke a word to each other. Youhei told me that this park is supposedly the best area to end a date...duh, why did I even bother forcing that fox to tour this place? He hasn't got an ounce of affection in his...A strange, muffled noise disturbed the redhead's thought. "Hey...what's that noise?" He curiously crawled onto a bench and peeked behind the bushes. What he saw rendered his face blue-green.
"Ru...Ru...Rukawa...!" The redhead squeaked, eyes wide as plates, mouth gaping with horror.
The raven head turned to face him. "What the hell's wrong with you, do'aho? Saw someone else's ghost or something?"
"Even worse...come and see for yourself!"
Rukawa quietly snuck up beside him and took a peek. There they were, two young men making out so zealously, they took no notice of the peeping toms.
"Can you...can you believe...?"
"What? They're just a gay couple. Nothing wrong with that." The raven head replied indifferently.
Sakuragi turned to the brunette with consternation, as if the latter proclaimed that three-eyed monsters were as common as ants. "Whaddya mean there's nothing wrong, you insane fox?! Those are two guys, for god's sake!!"
"...and that doesn't deprive their right to love each other."
The redhead's face was still contorted with disbelief and shock. "But it's...it's just...!"
"It's just not that common, that's all." The raven head finished promptly. "I probably would've been surprised too, except I've lived with two gay cousins since I was seven."
The expression on Sakuragi's face suddenly resembled pity. "You...serious about that, Rukawa? Life must've been horrible beyond bearing!! How could you not have run away?"
Rukawa turned sharply, a very stern and almost condemning look taking over his features. "People don't necessarily have the same tastes as you, do'aho...unless you truly understand how they feel, you'd best keep your mouth shut!"
Sakuragi stared at him for a few moments, then looked away. "Hmph...it's not me, fox. You have a really skewed outlook on things..." he claimed stubbornly, but the certainty was dropping from his voice. But then I wonder...after all those girl rejections, just what will it be like to love a guy for a change? Is there a possibility at all for someone like me to...Aaahhhh!! Where are these sick thoughts coming from??! He so wished he can somehow bang his head on a wall to released those unbearably disturbing notions.
And to think I almost gave in the urge to tell him what my cousin did to me...like anyone else, he'll definitely ostracize me like some revolting freak from then on.
"All right, let's go fox. You can go back to your infinitely pointless life..." Halfway through their walk, Sakuragi realized something. Wait a minute...he slapped his forehead and fought the urge to groan out loud. However I think about it, I've just been with Rukawa on the second half of the 'date'!! Then that makes me...? Oh shit, he thought. Now that new knowledge of homosexuality is messing with his mind.
Engaged in his own frustration, he wasn't aware that the dark-haired boy beside him was staring at him, with a certain sadness in his eyes. You were right, do'aho...except for one thing. It may seem I'm excessively proud of my physical appearance, but in reality, it's been a source of hatefully disgusting memories relentlessly jabbing at my whole being...
When the two boys were passing under an almost pitch-black underpass, Sakuragi suddenly saw that strange light filling the background. What the...again? This time, Rukawa and himself were back in the park, sitting together on the bench where he saw that make out. He was...chatting with the raven head, so carefreely as if he were Youhei? And that oblivious fox boy actually appeared to be listening, with his intent focus and occasional head nods...Something's been messing with my head ever since I ran into that weird Kimura lady...giving me these visions that make no damn sense! He was about to shake himself out of it when he saw someone approaching the two. A young man who was about their age, looking exotically cherubic; baby-faced, a pale complexion, a spread of freckles across his nose, and...the clearest brown eyes, just like his own. He stood right in front of the two boys, completely still, with a look of unmovable patience on his face, until Sakuragi's noticed him and stopped his babbling. The redhead squinted at the newcomer.
"Hey, fox...you know this guy?" he heard himself ask curiously.
Rukawa didn't answer, but regarded the stranger with dangerously narrowed eyes.
The new boy broke into a polite smile. "Nice to meet you...you must be Sakuragi Hanamichi. Mrs. Rukawa has told me all about you. I'm Rukawa Kaede's appointed bodyguard, Suzuki Masato."
"Body guard...?" the envisioned Sakuragi broke into laughter. "No offense, man...but with that puny physique of yours, I think fox's gonna end up doing all the protecting!"
No trace of ill-will traced Suzuki's face, as he kept his smile as intact as ever. Hmmm...kinda reminds me of that smiley Sendoh. Sakuragi thought to himself. "Well, Sakuragi san, believe it or not, Mrs. Rukawa did not choose me based on physical criteria...but rather on high mental capabilities. Not to boast, but my IQ of 220 does qualify me adequately as Kaede san's personal protector."
"Oh yeah?" the envisioned redhead challenged, a smirk still visible on his face; it showed exactly what he was thinking: Ha ha...he THINKS he has high mental capabilities. It's just that the poor guy doesn't know he's incomparable to a true tensai like me!! "And just what do you plan to do with all your brain power, Freckle Face?"
Suzuki suddenly leaned close to the redhead. Underneath the polite friendliness, Sakuragi could perceive something malicious glinting in the other boy's eyes. "Well, if you really want to know, Sakuragi san...I have a duty to keep certain people away from Kaede-san, especially those deemed by Mrs. Rukawa to have an unhealthy influence on her son..." All the light- hearted haughtiness suddenly disappeared from Sakuragi's face...and for a moment, he actually looked...intimidated.
As if sensing the unease, Rukawa suddenly yanked the redhead away from their eye contact. He glowered at his body guard with an implicit threat. "You...f---ing leave him alone, or else. And tell my mother she'd better not bother us again with her stupid shit." He turned to Sakuragi, his eyes softening visibly...and his gaze almost becoming protective. "And you, do'aho...stay away from both of them, and don't listen to a word of bull shit they try to tell you. Let's go someplace else." He quickly walked off, dragging Sakuragi with him.
"Hey, hold on, fox! You're bruising my arm! Slow down...!" Came the redhead's loud complaints. Suzuki Masato stood there with an unreadable expression, watching them disappear. Then he smiled, the same chilling gleam resurfacing in his eyes...
"What's eating you, Do'aho? It's 1:00 in the morning already." The envisioned scene suddenly evaporated, and the redhead was back to reality once more.
"All right, all right..." Sakuragi stopped walking again. "Wait a minute...Youhei told me something was important about 1 am. I wonder..." Suddenly, a glowing mist appeared out of nowhere, and masked the redhead's body completely. "What the hell...?!" was all Sakuragi had time to exclaim before it took him along with it...back to his physical body, back to that black emptiness again.
Too dumbfounded to move or speak, Rukawa only stared at the spot the redhead last stood. Finally regaining his senses, he took out his amulet again and gazed at it intensely. 12 hours...that's all you'll give that do'aho, huh?
The raven head was still pondering when his eye caught something in the street mirror. Startled, he looked up and saw...a man in a trench coat, hair completely covered with a gray hat and face completely wrapped up with a red cloth. He was standing right by the corner in the back. Rukawa quickly spun around, but saw no one. When he glanced back at the mirror, the figure was gone.
Feeling strangely tense, the brunette called out in an audible voice, "Aka...that's your name isn't it? I'm not in the mood to play your stupid games, so come out and state your damn business!" No answer, except the echo of his own voice. After a minute or so of scanning his surroundings, Rukawa resumed to walking back home again, keeping a wary watch along the way.
TBC