Yay. Chapter 3 finally done!
Inspiration for this chapter: "I heard but did not listen" from Abraham's Promise.

Slam Dunk is not mine. It will never be mine.

CHAPTER 3

Rukawa closed his eyes tightly. He shivered as he felt cold air blowing pass his naked body. Twisting the knob, his shoulder jerked as the first drop of cold water hit him. Haa...

15 minutes later, he stepped out of the shower. Slowly, he grabbed the towel and tied it securely around his waist. He sauntered towards the phone and checked his answering machine.

"You have 9 new messages..."

9?? In just 15 minutes? What the hell...?

The first three messages were for his parents. He heard it, but did not listen.

"Fourth message."

"Ano... Rukawa..." A very familiar voice said, then quickly followed by a dial tone.
The next few messages were a few hesitant murmurs by the same person.

Rukawa listened carefully. Why. That do'aho was actually nervous. His mouth twitched in amusement. Imagine that.

Suddenly, a gruff voice was heard in the small room. "Excuse me. This is for Rukawa-san. We have reviewed your performances last year and accepted your application. A basketball scholarship is given to you. We hope to see you in a month's time."

Rukawa paused. He scratched his head slowly. Scholarship... Scholarship... Scholarship? His brain cells jerked. Ah! His basketball scholarship at a university in America. Had they really accepted him?

He whooped for joy. He shrieked. He ran around, screaming, "I did it! I did it!" He smirked. If only he could show that kind of reaction. That do'aho would probably do all those, and more. All Rukawa did was calmly buckle his jeans.

Pulling down his blue sweater, Rukawa grabbed his keys and left his house.

Sakuragi hung up. How many times had he done that? And how many times had he chickened out? The only times when he was brave enough to actually hear the ringing tone, all he got was his freaking machine.

Why was he torturing himself? What had happened to all of his self-confidence that he had possessed last year? Had it disappear, along with his cockiness?

Ever since that Rukawa had kissed him, he had felt so unsure. Does that mean that they are lovers? Or was it just another joke? Rukawa...joking? Yeah, sure.

Sakuragi stepped away from the phone. He shall not look at it anymore, he promised himself. Nope. No more calls to that fox face.

He sat down on the sofa and surfed the channels. Boring, boring... His head sprang up. What was that? Thud. Thud. There it was again. Who could it be..?

Whoever it was, it definitely could not be his mother. She had decided to go on a road trip all the way to Okinawa to find her true identity and also inner peace, leaving her only son alone in Japan, eating only take-outs and fast food.

Thud. It was definitely coming from his bedroom window. Sakuragi tiptoed towards the window. Everything outside was still. He opened it.

"OW!" He yelped as a stone hit him hard on the head. "Itai!!" He rubbed his forehead roughly. "Hey! Stop throwing stones at my window, y'hear? Who is doing this? Show yourself."

Rukawa stepped out of the shadows.

"Dammit, Rukawa! You could have at least knocked on the front door or something! Now I have a throbbing headache. Bloody hell!" Sakuragi yelled at the unmoving boy.

Rukawa shrugged. "I'm coming up," he said, and without waiting for an answer, strode towards the front door.

Sakuragi opened the door without a word. Rukawa breezed past him and plopped himself on the sofa. "Watching TV?" he muttered and picked up the remote.

What a rude sonovabitch. Just barging in and treating this like his bloody home. Who does he think he is?

Sakuragi snatched the remote away. He switched the TV off and faced Rukawa.

"Hey. I was watching that..."

"Shut up." Sakuragi scowled. "What are you doing here? You can't just... STAY here. It's not right. And I'm sick of you treating me like dirt."

"I treat you like..."

"Yes, you do. You know it. What? You think I don't have any feelings? I'm human too, you know. Your insults used to mean nothing to me, but now... now... It hurts. It really does."

Sakuragi pointed his index finger to the door. "That's why I want you to leave. NOW. I'm sorry, but I deserve better."

For the first time, Sakuragi saw Rukawa's eyes widened with his mouth hanging open. He really does look funny, sort of like a gaping fish, and Sakuragi's mouth twitched in amusement.

"Alright. I'll leave. Do'aho."

Rukawa stood up from the sofa and strolled to the door. Before stepping out, he scratched his head and turned around.

"I didn't know you were hurt. I'm sorry."

Sakuragi faltered, but he nodded at the apology. Inside, his heart quivered slightly at the apology. He knew how hard it had to be for Rukawa to apologize. What else apologize to him...

"So... I'll leave..." Rukawa muttered. He turned towards the door and stepped out.

Sakuragi slammed the door shut before Rukawa could turn around and say something else. Did he do the right thing? Did he just drive them more apart?

He leaned against the door and rested his hands on his forehead. Baka. Sakuragi, you big baka. He shouldn't have asked Rukawa to leave. The chances of Rukawa ever being his are getting hazier and blur as the days past.

Sakuragi turned to open the knob. I'm sorry, Rukawa. Come back... His hand grabbed the knob right before he heard three sharp taps on the door. Eagerly, he opened it.

"Rukawa. I..."

Rukawa brushed past him. "Forgot my bag." He mumbled. He grabbed his duffel bag, then turned to leave.

Sakuragi stood there, helpless. All he could do was watch Rukawa's back as he disappears into the night.