"The Rukawa Love Me Potion" (Part 2 of 2)
Another nutty SenRuSen by Arachay
Series: Slam Dunk
Characters/Pairing: Akira Sendoh x Kaede Rukawa (SenRu)
Genre: YAOI/BxB, shounen-ai, attempt at humor, lemon, and maybe a bit of angst...
Warnings: Beware of pwp insanity and nonsense. Silly idea that I've been meaning to put our boys through… Hopefully not too OOC...
Disclaimer: Even if I said I owned Slam Dunk, no one would believe me right? Besides, I've no money...
A/N: Finally done! Just in time for Ruru's birthday! raises sake bottle Kampai!
"Earth to Sendoh Akira! Anybody home?"
It wasn't a dream...
When he woke up, Rukawa had left. Sheets were incredibly rumpled, Rukawa's sweet scent was still lingering in them. He probably sniffed his pillow too long that he was ten minutes late for his first class. He couldn't get it out of his head! The images of a beautiful Rukawa and his afterglow underneath him, as Rukawa thrusted back at him that night calling his name, begging him to be taken and kissed and possessed. It was all too good to be true. And it was. As he checked his duffel bag that morning, the bottle of Aquarius Neo was gone. The love-potion had been drank up to the very last drop. And there was only one person he could think of who drank it. Who else? Who else but his beautiful lover last night. That would explain the sudden change in the sullen boy's personality. It was all the effects of the love potion. All those sweet kisses, all that intimate love-making was the spur of the moment effects of his stupid love potion!
"Sendoh Akira!" This time it wasn't Koshino who had called, but their sensei.
"Eep." Koshino hissed under his breath, "Sendoh! Wake up!"
The dread. It was all he could think of. If Rukawa had indeed been victim to the love potion, he knew what was in store for him next. He would suffer the same fate as Furry Akira did. "Poor Furry Akira."
"Eh?" Koshino gaped as he caught Sendoh's mumbling, seeing that his efforts to wake Sendoh from whatever dimension he had zoned out to was so far in vain.
"Poor Chubby Kaede." Sendoh added sadly.
"Baka." Koshino shook his head. The only 'poor' creature he could see right now was Sendoh himself for he was about to suffer a more horrible punishment under one of their most merciless professors...
Koshino clapped a palm to his forehead and looked away, the other classmates covered their eyes and ears as their sensei's wooden rod slammed down Sendoh's desk in a unnerving WHACK!
Sendoh needless to say was startled out of his reverie, finally. And made to do time in detention. He sighed as he took his seat at the end of the classroom. Looks like the captain would be absent for basketball practice that afternoon. Bummer.
Later after practice...
Sendoh burst into the shower stalls, meeting at least a dozen stares from his half naked (and some completely naked) teammates.
"Rukawa!" Sendoh called out, grabbing Rukawa's arm just as he stepped out of one of the shower stalls. Those shiny ebony strands were still dripping all over his face and Rukawa glared at him unappreciatively.
"What is it Sendoh?"
Lucky for Sendoh, Rukawa's lower half was clad in a towel. His upper half however, which was exposed, were some of their team members' favorite eye-candy after practice, perhaps that's why there were more sign-ups for the club this year (Rukawa chose to be oblivious). Now being pulled out of the stalls so aggressively left everyone's mouth agape. Koshino himself blushed beet red, at the sight of Sendoh drawing Rukawa close to him so intimately like that. What's up with this guy?
Koshino coughed once. Twice. And most of the other members scuttled out of the room leaving their captain and vice-captain for a 'private' conference.
Rukawa relaxed ever so slightly when he was certain that they were alone, but Sendoh barely noticed.
"Did you drink it?" Sendoh gasped after recovering from the swirl of memories from last night triggered by the sight of Rukawa.
"Drink what?" Rukawa's thin red lips moved only ever so slightly.
"The potio- I mean-! My Aquarius Neo!" He had to remind himself to get a grip, he was being overly excited.
"What?" Rukawa didn't understand the fuss or the urgency. After a moment's hesitation. "Why are you so worked up all of a sudden? So what if I did?"
Sendoh knees weakened. So it was too good to be true... Rukawa drank the potion after all. Everything... everything that happened last night... all the kisses and smiles they shared was all a dream... and it may never happen again... it may never...
"Sendoh?" Rukawa put a palm to his forehead. "Are you okay? You don't look so well..."
"I'm fine Rukawa-kun."
"Are you worried about something? Why'd you ask me about that?" Rukawa smirked suddenly. "Was there poison in it, Akira?"
Heh... Sendoh laughed weakly. "Well... no." Not poison... but something that may be just as dangerous... or worse. "Do you... Do you remember anything last night? Anything at all?"
Rukawa's eyes suddenly sharpened, and for a split second it looked like he was his old self again, but then before Sendoh could react, he felt the boys supple wet lips pressing against his, that warm tongue prodding urgently, instantly raising his temperature by several degrees. And even if he knew he didn't deserve to, Akira gave in and kissed him back. "You mean this?" Rukawa breathed teasingly in between kisses.
He wanted to believe it. He wanted to kiss Rukawa back and make love to him again and forget everything and live happily ever after... But how could he? Knowing that Rukawa was under the potion's influence? He could wake up any minute and hate him with just as much intensity. He was ready for it. he knew he deserved to be punished. He in fact wanted to be punished, if it meant that it would prove how much he regretted what he has done and how much he truly desired that Rukawa's words were spoken out of his own free will... Why did he even dream of manipulating Rukawa into becoming his? Why did he let himself get so desperate? It was so uncharacteristic of him to act klutzy and obsessed even if he was in love. But then again, even with more than a good percentage of the female population always pining after him, he's never had it this bad... he's never met anyone like Rukawa... Rukawa was... was... an angel on earth! A demi-god, a princess! Er, prince! Anyone would easily lose themselves completely in front of such a beautiful boy... and sadly, he did lose everything... Even his own dignity, if not his sanity...
Rukawa looked up at Sendoh, perplexed at his koi's faraway countenance, when the Sendoh he knew should've instantly been mind-blanked of all other distractions after the passionate gesture. "Oi."
"Hnn?" Sendoh responded, still somewhat absent-minded, randomly deciding to run his fingers through Rukawa's soft (and still wet) ebony hair.
"Is something wrong?"
"Well..." he took a deep breath and sighed. "Yes."
Rukawa's brow raised.
"The Aquarius Neo you drank... last night... now... everything..." Sendoh didn't know where to begin. He shut his eyes and continued, "everything... is not right. I-I mean... I wished it were! How I wished it was true. But... it isn't."
"Huh?" Rukawa narrowed his eyes. "What the heck are you talking about Sendoh?! You must be coming down with something."
"I'm so sorry."
"The ionized water you drank was laced with my stupid love potion!"
"Love potion...?!" Rukawa wasn't sure he heard right.
"Well, it's not really a love potion, but it heightens sexual desire and libido." Sendoh explained without meeting his lover's eyes. "So there, now you know why I took the extra advanced Chemistry classes for Erotology all of a sudden when we entered our third year. I never meant for you to drink it... I-I mean I did. I wanted you to... to... like me. To love me!"
At this Rukawa blushed but said nothing.
"But when I saw you that day, I changed my mind! And I wasn't going to give it to you, but you drank it anyway, that's why you've been feeling this way. That's why you acted so different all of a sudden. You kissed me under the shower, and I swear it was the best thing that ever happened to me... Yes, I wanted that, but I never wanted to control you. I just wanted you to give me a chance... but not like that... I was wrong. This is all my fault. I guess I only did that because I've been crazy about you ever since, Rukawa Kaede... no, not when I asked you to enter the same college with me, making up that stupid excuse about continuing our rivalry... long before that... the real stupid truth is... I didn't understand it then but ever since the first day I met you at our practice match... I couldn't help but think about you... want to be close to you... I've already heard so much about you, but you were unlike anything I've ever expected... After that practice match... somehow, I knew. We were meant to be together. And I was hoping you felt the same way... that we could become friends... and maybe much more..."
Silence.
"I'm so sorry Rukawa..."
"I know..."
"I'm really-" Sendoh looked up. "What...? What did you say?"
"It shocked me." It was Rukawa's turn to look down, bangs overshadowing his eyes. "When you first came to me and said those silly things... At first I thought you were just a hopeless flirt. But I knew... since the day we first met... I couldn't help noticing you, or wanting to know more about you... hoping that you were everything my heart was daring to expect... When I heard that you liked me I couldn't believe it. It seemed like a dream... like one big joke. I thought it was stupid... but I couldn't help but hope it was true all the same... because I'd fallen for you too... and I couldn't deny it anymore, but it was hard for me to accept it then cause I couldn't help but despise you... for beating me so many times... for always being better... and... for being so nice..."
Sendoh was at a loss for words. What this the real Rukawa talking? Or was this another after effect of the love potion?
Both were silent for a few long seconds. Then Rukawa's soft, monotone breaks the tension, "You really didn't need any love potion..."
"Kaede..." He couldn't believe his ears, was this the truth? Did Rukawa really feel the same way? Or will he wake up tomorrow and find out that it was all a dream? That Rukawa really hated him and these were all manifestations of that accursed potion! He didn't know what to think, his mind was in a whirl.
Rukawa had quietly proceeded to dress and turned to leave, but Sendoh didn't care to think about tomorrow anymore. He was skeptical but undoubtedly ecstatic. Rukawa felt the same way about him! And for now, that was all that mattered. Before Rukawa could protest, he hastily drew the boy into his arms in a fierce hug. "Kaede... I'm so happy."
Rukawa laughed softly. A cold laugh.
Sendoh felt Rukawa stiffen under his embrace.
"D'ahou... what do you think you're doing?"
"K-Kaede?" Sendoh swallowed nervously.
"I may have said as much but who said I've forgiven you?!"
Rukawa was staring at him eyes blazing.
Sendoh gulped.
"You must take me for an idiot if you expect to be forgiven that easily!"
Sendoh was helpless, he couldn't comprehend what was happening. But before he knew it, Rukawa's fist meets his gut and the impact makes him wince in pain but he hung on to Rukawa's arm with all of his remaining strength. This earned him Rukawa's signature death glare.
"I love you Rukawa." Sendoh smiled. "Remember that." And without warning he pulled Rukawa for a kiss. His smile broadened as he felt Rukawa kiss him back, but the pleasure was quickly replaced by another jolt of pain as his foolish gesture earned him another punch, much more forceful than the first, and many things about Rukawa's physique was a wonderful mixture of lovely bishounen androgyny but the total opposite can be said of his uncanny strength which even prevails over that of the barbaric Sakuragi's. Sendoh knew he should've anticipated the retaliation but he didn't, and was caught off-guard, so he cringed inwardly in an effort to keep himself standing. This time Rukawa had no difficulty freeing himself from Sendoh's grip.
As Rukawa left, most of the half naked club members piled back in the locker room, some flocked around their captain, mixed looks of bewilderment and curiosity plastered all over their faces. Needles to say, they've been eavesdropping.
"Oi baka, you okay?" Koshino loomed over him.
"Aa." Sendoh smiled weakly as he helped himself up. He was giddy and happy despite the pain writhing his insides. One minute Rukawa confessed his feelings for him and he's in cloud nine, the next minute he's miserably hurting all over. Maybe the potion had worn-off too soon and the confession was most likely the effects of it. He deserved what he got, but he felt so happy all the same...
Who said I've forgiven you? Rukawa's words echoed in his mind.
It was worth it. The image of a blushing Rukawa will forever be imprinted in his mind.
Sendoh sighed for the umpteenth time that day, as he continued staring at the clouds. It's been a week since he and Rukawa last spoke. So it may have been true that Rukawa drank his outrageous concoction, and may have acted extra sweet that night because of it, but Sendoh knew that the potion could never have completely overridden Rukawa's heart. Spurt of libido or not, Rukawa did admit that he was attracted to Sendoh from the very start, and that was a humongous consolation for him. He understood Rukawa's feelings, and of course he accepted his punishment whole-heartedly, but still, he made it a point to write at least a dozen letters of apology each day, and leave it at Rukawa's locker with a either a flower or a candy bar as his little token of wooing the boy's forgiveness...
Also he ceremoniously emptied the contents of the remaining love potion into the lab sink, making his pets a peace offering, their favorite scrumptious amount of hamster pellets and vegetables, and a promise to never have them subjected to any of his experiments again. He took the aquarium home, and Furry Akira still pined after Chubby Kaede, and Chubby Kaede was still cranky, and sure they always hissed at each other but hey, he could say that relatively their relationship was improving. He hoped his and Rukawa's relationship would fare at least, the same way...
Funny how it's been gloomy and rainy the entire week... Sendoh thought, as though the weather shared his sorrows. Every single day, he waited after school practice, walked home in silence with Rukawa and still kept up their one-on-ones in their neighborhood court, where he and Rukawa had developed their daily afternoon practice habits... Despite the younger boy's aloofness, he knew Rukawa cared bout him a lot, and it gave him strength.
That day, his efforts were finally rewarded. After another merciless practice session, he handed Rukawa his bottle of Aquarius Neo. This time, no potion. Rukawa gave him one withering look before slowly drinking it and wiping his mouth, pretending to be indifferent still... only to shock Sendoh the next minute by drinking his fill of the week's missed kisses from Sendoh's delicious lips.
So that officially marked Rukawa's forgiveness, they had made up and were now an item.
The entire team was unusually quiet but secretly happy for both their captains. No one could argue that they made such a cute couple. Koshino was especially happy that he could have his peace. Their entire team went home in high spirits knowing that finally, after more than three agonizing years they're finally together where they're meant to be. They too had long been aware of the attraction between them, and it was like finally seeing the happy ending to a long -quite unusual, but sweet, but still odd- and nevertheless exciting soap opera.
Sendoh sighed happily. That day, the breeze blew softly, the sun shone brightly and there wasn't a trace of rain. The weather was perfect for an afternoon nap. He gently worked his arms around Rukawa's figure, and wrapped the boy in a hug. Rukawa had already fallen asleep on his chest as they were relaxing on the grassy knoll watching the sunset. Since then, Sendoh's silly smile has been replaced by a genuine one. One that radiated from the bliss he felt in his heart knowing that there will only be happy days with his koi from now on...
Epilogue:
"Hey Kosh!" Sendoh took a seat next to his friend, as he toweled off and sipped hurriedly from the straw in his water bottle. "What is it you wanted to tell me?"
Hikoichi leaned in closer as Koshino fished for something in his bag. "Hikoichi and I were cleaning out the old unused gym lockers the other day when we found something we thought you might be interested in." Koshino held out a bottle of Aquarius Neo.
Sendoh's brows furrowed, till Koshino turned the bottle upside-down. The Kanji ideograms: "Sendoh Akira" plus; an "X" mark in bright red ink, could be seen plainly underneath.
"Whu-?" Sendoh took the bottle and examined it closely. Unmistakably the bottle belonged to him, and the "X" mark only meant that it was the very same bottle he used for the potion! The bottle seemed untouched and filled with clear liquid, obviously ionized water, but upon closer inspection, blue almost invisible crystal-like residue could be spotted settling down at the bottom.
"Are you sure you put that in your bag that day?"
Sendoh looked thoughtful. "Yeah... I checked it before we came into the gym!"
"Then how'd it end up in the lockers? Looks like that hasn't been touched since last week. I thought your prince charming supposedly drank that? Did you only make one of those?" Koshino's eyes narrowed wearily, "Perish forbid that you prepared more of that hentai potion of yours!"
"No..." Sendoh murmured. "That's impossible. I flushed the rest of the potion down the drain. I'm positive I only made one bottle of Aquarius Neo with it..."
Koshino frowned. "You don't look so sure about that."
"No, no, I am." Sendoh replied quickly. "It's just that... this means Rukawa didn't drink my love potion after all... he acted completely out of his own free will..."
Images of that night, when Rukawa kissed him in the shower, looked at him lovingly and surrendered to him so seductively in his bed... Could it be? All of it... All of it was real! It was Rukawa and nothing else. No one and nothing had influenced his actions that night. Everything was the real!
"Well..." Koshino interrupted Sendoh's train of thoughts. "I know you must be in seventh heaven now that you've finally cleared that out, and I hate to burst your bubble but... If it wasn't you who left it, somebody must've known about your potion other than us, and switched those bottles. Who could've done it? Do you think Rukawa knew all along?"
"No..." Sendoh said slowly, recalling how clueless Rukawa looked upon the revelation of being victim to his love potion. "I don't think Kae-chan knew anything about it..."
"Then who else could it be?"
Sendoh shrugged, the grin on his face slowly getting bigger. "I don't know... And... I don't care."
"Somehow I knew you'd say that." Koshino muttered.
"All I know is that I'm so happy I could kiss you both!"
Hikoichi stared dumbfounded.
"Better not." Koshino commented dryly.
Sendoh chuckled, "Thanks guys... Y'know... I think I just learned something from all this..."
"Oh really? Y'mean there's actually a moral lesson from all this nonsense?"
Sendoh nodded eyes twinkling.
"And what... pray tell have you learned?" Koshino prodded rather anxious.
Sendoh unscrewed the bottle and emptied it's contents into nearby trash bin. "I've discovered the best love potion for Kaede to love me."
"Oh no... not another potion!"
"It took me a lifetime to perfect it, but it's all worth it!" Sendoh smiled happily and looked up at Rukawa dashing towards the hoop, even more beautiful in all his glory as he dunks the ball, sending their defending teammates to the ground. He catches Rukawa sneak a peak at him and roll his eyes. Then he turned to Koshino, "Know what it is?"
Koshino sighed and replied quite perfunctorily, pretending to be uninterested, "What?" Although deep inside he was interested, and was somehow relieved that Sendoh was finally alleviated of the guilt that the potion incident brought. Though he'd never show it, he was truly happy for his old friend, finally getting his heart's fondest desire, and that is Rukawa's love. He only hoped Sendoh wasn't up to more mischief...
Sendoh laughed seeing Koshino and Hikoichi's nervous expressions. "It's one that'll never wear off..." He turned to Rukawa's stately form striding over to him, a towel clad over his koi's cute head, and smiled.
"It's basketball."
Owari.
01-01-05
End Notes:
My story (sorta) follows the SD timeline so yeah, Sen is still older than Ru, but he waited for Rukawa so they could enter college at the same time and finish the same year. Sweet.
If you're forever an insane true blue SenRuSen fan girl like me, please support existing die-hard SenRuSen groups. Search for TrueBlueSenRu on deviantARTand SenRu Only & SenRu-PH on Facebook. If there are any more SenRu groups you know about, please let me know. :3 *bows*