Disclaimer: I don't own Slam Dunk
Legend: Interlude ………..0000000000……….
Author's note:Hey guys!!! The much-awaited continuation of I love you, I don't is finally here. This is my Christmas gift for my beloved HanaRu! This is for killer-of-wills. Since you're my favorite flame reviewer, I'm giving you a chance right now to close this window or click the back button I don't think you'll like this fic. If you decided to continue, it will be your own personal choice to waste your time. This message also goes out to bet you love that and anne drew. To the rest, I hope you'll enjoy. And please leave a review, I would be happy to hear from you, be it a flame review or otherwise. LONG LIVE YAOI! -tensai di-chan
"Rukawa Conglomerate. How can I help you?" Tanaka Miyuki chirpily answered.
"Big time. Please settle an appointment for me and your big boss in an hour."
"I'm very sorry sir. I can't possibly do that."
"You should do that. Because I'm going to barge in anyway."
"Sir, I am very, very sorry. Rukawa-sama will kill me if he has to make another meeting."
"That's your problem. Tell him to expect me in an hour. By the way, my name's Hanamichi Sakuragi." then Hana hanged up.
"Why is it that my job is to make impossible appointments?" Tanaka sighed.
After the call, Tanaka placed another call to Kaede's inner office.
"Sir? A certain Hanamichi Sakuragi wants to meet you in an hour here."
"Tanaka-san? Don't you know I have a full schedule today?" Rukawa said irritatingly while rubbing his forehead.
""I know that sir, but this certain Hanamichi Sakuragi said he is going to enter anyway."
"What's the name again?" Rukawa asked in a held breath.
"Hanamichi Sakuragi."
Rukawa froze.
Grabbing his coat, Rukawa dashed for the exit. He can't stand another idea of a cold meeting with Hanamichi. He needed to compose himself. If he doesn't, things would go another way. What should I do?
"Tanaka-san, uh, uh, umm, if he arrive. Aah, tell him to wait in my office. I have something to do. Okay?"
"Sure thing, Rukawa-sama." Tanaka-san smiled, grateful that she isn't going to be scolded.
………….000000000…………
"Is he inside?" Hanamichi demanded to Rukawa's secretary, panting heavily.
"Sir, Rukawa-sama told me to tell you to wait in his office. I'm sure he will be back shortly."
Inside the office, Hanamichi flopped down on a chair. After about 10 minutes of no Rukawa showing up, Hanamichi decided to look around. The office was tastefully made up. It was done in dark brown and cream, an official looking office. Curiously, he turned towards a cabinet of Rukawa's memorabilia. There were several business recognition plaques in the cabinet along with basketball trophies. There were also several pictures of Rukawa with some of Tokyo's affluent businessmen. In a corner of the cabinet, Hanamichi gasped as he notices a familiar looking basketball. He rubbed his eyes to confirm his sight. Yes, it was definitely the basketball he had given Rukawa for their 1st year anniversary. It looked worn, as if it was used many times.
"So, he hadn't thrown away all I've gave him. Maybe I should demand them back." Hanamichi mumbled although pleased at this piece of information.
Still looking around, Hanamichi decided to snoop around Rukawa's desk. It looked typical enough with a phone, a laptop, and a calendar. A picture in the farthest side of the desk caught his eye. Intrigue at the photo, Hanamichi snatches it up. He gasped again when he saw himself in the photo. It was during their 1st month as a couple. Hanamichi was grinning widely, his hands wrapped around Rukawa's waist. Rukawa, on the other hand, was sleeping.
"Stupid kitsune." Hanamichi grumbled at the memory of the two of them at the pier. "Did I just call him by kitsune? I mean, stupid Rukawa."
Opening the drawer, Hanamichi sees many pictures of them together. All of them are happy. All of the pictures were worn out. Scribbled at the back of the pictures were words like 'Together forever, and nothing can come between us'.
"Too bad you had thrown them all away kitsune."
Tears were forming in Hanamichi's eyes. They were tears of disappointment and self-pity. The same kind he had felt during high school graduation when he had waited for Rukawa to do something or say something. Hanamichi stood up and faces the window revealing the majestic skyscraper scenery of Tokyo. Tears are definitely cascading in his cheeks.
He felt someone's presence behind. The hair on his neck stood up. A certain someone wrapped his arms around his waist and warbled.
I'll be standing at the edge of the earth,
hoping that one day you'll come back again,
I'll be standing at the edge of the earth,
hoping that someday you'll come back to me
Rukawa, almost to the point of being off-key, sang his pleading. He hugged Sakuragi firmly, as though never letting go.
"Hana…, I was wrong. You were right. Will you forgive me?"
"Why should I?" Hanamichi whispered.
"Because I brought your favorite cheeseburger?" Rukawa decided to tell his first joke to lighten up the mood, holding up a take-out bag from Danny's.
"You can't buy me with lousy singing and a cheeseburger Rukawa." Hanamichi tersely stated.
"I know that."
"Will you let me go? It's blocking my breathing."
"No. I'm asking for another chance."
"It's not easy to give you that."
"You want to know the reason? You know, I'm not completely wrong."
"What?" Hanamichi couldn't believe his ears.
"I'm not emotionally ready."
"Bullshit." he exclaimed.
"No, it's true." Rukawa interjected. "I need to know what I am for and my other passion aside from basketball." he smiled almost knowingly. "Your being there will not make it easy. I love you… I know that… but still I need to think, and it's best if I think alone."
"Philosophical reasoning doesn't work with me Rukawa."
"And I don't want to hinder you to grow by yourself. It's your right."
Hanamichi rolled his eyes at this.
"If you think I'm wrong, well I don't… In the long run, you will understand."
"I'd hope you'd explained this to me earlier."
"Earlier, I myself don't understand. Just lately the answer came to me. I'm sorry anyway for causing you much pain."
"How come you're talking a lot right now?"
"I have to. Otherwise it will take you twenty years to finally understand." Rukawa chided jokingly. "This is the only way."
Hanamichi didn't speak for a long time. The he finally nodded his understanding.
"Thanks, kitsune. For giving me a chance to find myself too and to develop."
Silence intervened between them
"What happens now?" Hanamichi asked, almost to the point of being scared.
"Another chance?"
"Although I finally understood but that doesn't mean I'm ready to take another try."
"Please? I thought if I completed my dreams, I would be complete. I was very wrong. I needed you to complete me." After that, Rukawa started singing again.
Even though it seems I have everything,
I don't want to be a lonely fool
All of the women, all of the expensive cars
All of the money doesn't amount to you
I can make believe I have everything
But I can't pretend that I don't see
That without you, my life is incomplete
"You have a terrible voice and you're becoming too talkative and too cheesy for your sake kitsune." Hanamichi retorted, eyes smiling.
"I don't care. At least you're back to calling me kitsune, do'aho."
"I mean, Rukawa." Hanamichi turned around but Rukawa has his arms around him still.
"Will you give me another chance?" Rukawa pleaded.
"How will I make sure you're not going to leave me again?" he looked at Rukawa's cobalt blue eyes.
"I'll only leave you when your hair turned black and my hair turned red." Kaede smiled.
"All right, but you have to buy Tokyo Thundercats and Companies for me."
"I'll only buy it if you promise you won't leave the team."
"Okay." Hanamichi smiled.
"And to prove that I will always be by your side, I decided to play for Thundercats as well."
"Really?"
"Yes! We'll be teammates again. And we'll definitely conquer the Nationals.
"I bet I can beat you in basketball now since you haven't played basketball in three years,"
"I doubt that but I don't care anyway if you beat me."
"Nyahahaha!!! That's because I'm the tensai?"
"You are the tensai, do'aho."
"Teme! Who are you calling do'-?"
Hanamichi didn't have a chance in continuing his answer because Rukawa finally kissed him. It was a sweet kiss. After three years of waiting for this, he decided he couldn't wait any longer.
"Do'aho, I love you. I do."
OWARI
Finished at11:06 p.m. Nov. 2, 2004
Author's note: Wow, I've finished it. Yehey! I would like to thank the following who, even if they don't have any idea, supported me in completing this fic and/or write other fics. Thank you reviewers!
killer-of-wills, shake-it-buddy, Ria Sakazaki, Crusty Bubblehead, firedraygon97, ZeroZeta, bet you love that, LuthorCorp, jihan, insane-huntress, jayne, izumi, kae annedrew, armie santos, katkat-san, chelle, ewon, chibi reikou, siniestra yamasaky, kapwa pilipino, sakura, KyotoXoX, anime-luverjc, and lady trunks.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Long Live YAOI!
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