WARNING: This is a fictional story, obviously yaoi. If you don't like these kinds of stories please don't attempt to read this.
SUMMARY: Rukawa is in love with Mitsui but his ego kept denying it, until one fateful night that would make a bond they thought could never happen.
DISCLAIMER: Slam Dunk is not mine. Please don't sue me for making this story.
A/N: Please REVIEW! I'd like to know what are your thoughts about my nonsense fic… uhmmm I appreciate all of you for saying that I do not suck. You're reviews really make me smile and honestly, it cheers me up. Anyway this is chapter 7 and I hope you would enjoy reading it. Please REVIEW… thanks so much…
Chapter 7
It has been a week since that incident happened between Rukawa Kaede and Mitsui Hisashi. And Mitsui still vividly remembers every detail of what had happened that night. He wouldn't forget the expression that was etched on the younger boy's face. Mitsui thought that Rukawa looked so defeated that he himself felt guilty of what he did to the younger boy. He felt as if he was slapped for beating somebody relentlessly knowing that his opponent had no chance to counter fight.
And today at their practice, both of them acts as if nothing happened between them. Rukawa still kept his aggressiveness during their practice and Mitsui watches every move by the younger boy in the corner of his eye.
"Time out!" Akagi roared at them after bellowing at the whistle. "Take a rest for ten minutes!"
Everybody went to the side of the court and took some rest. Mitsui followed suit and sat at a corner, drinking his water. As usual, Rukawa continued practicing his shots, just pausing to drink some water.
Mitsui closed his eyes, trying hard as not to be overcome by fatigue.
"What is happening to me?" He thought grimly.
Well, Mitsui Hisashi, I'm going to tell you. For the past seven days of your life, you couldn't even sleep fitfully without thinking of the raven hair boy that you come to admire… or rather fall in love with?
"Shut up." Mitsui told himself. He was still trying his best to rest and free his mind of anything when he heard Akagi call somebody that made his eyes flew open.
"Rukawa." Akagi called out to the younger boy. Rukawa instantly acknowledged his captain's call and walked towards him.
"Somebody is looking for you outside."
"…"
"He said his name is Didiere Tatou." Akagi said.
Hearing what his captain said, he went out immediately to meet the person whom his captain was referring to.
Mitsui saw everything from his side and waited for Rukawa to come back. After about ten minutes, Rukawa came dashing inside the court towards the lockers, his head bowed like what he did when they had their confrontation. Everybody was preoccupied of what they were doing until Rukawa came rushing back towards the exit, sprinting with his bag in hand and not even bothering to talk to Akagi or anyone else.
"Wow, is that Rukawa?"
"What happened to him? Is he sick or something?"
"Maybe an emergency call from home, you know…"
Kogure hearing the speculations of his teammates went to Akagi to confirm what was happening. "Akagi, what happened to Rukawa?"
Akagi shrugged. "I don't know. The man just looked for Rukawa, saying his name only. And I think Rukawa knows the man because he didn't hesitate to meet the stranger."
"Maybe family business." Kogure reasoned out.
"I don't know", Akagi said more to himself. He sighed and shouted to everyone, "ten minutes is over! Let's start!"
An hour passed and Mitsui couldn't concentrate better on his game than he was an hour ago. He kept on missing his three-point shots and was continuously being reprimanded by Akagi. If he was a dolt like Sakuragi, he was sure that he would have bruises all over his head already, courtesy of Akagi.
"What the hell are you doing, Mitsui!" Akagi yelled at him. "Concentrate more!"
"I know!" Mitsui spat back, more irritated to himself than to Akagi's nagging. "I'm trying to, okay!"
"Fuck it!" Mitsui grumbled to himself.
Finally, Akagi puffed his whistle signaling the end of their practice for the day. And Mitsui was more than glad to end his suffering by going home to get that good night's sleep.
Instead of waiting for his other teammates to finish in the showers, he quickly took a shower even before his teammates showed. He quickly got dressed and went out.
"Quiet in a hurry for a Friday night, aren't we Mitcchy?" Sakuragi teased. "Catching a date?"
"Yeah." Mitsui replied nonchalantly as he passed by them hurriedly. Ignoring the annoying laughter from behind.
He went home easily, thinking that he could he ease his mind more if his in the security of his abode. But he was definitely wrong. Since there were no distractions from anybody such as the loud mouth Sakuragi, all his thoughts focused more on a certain raven hair boy who has the most beautiful skin, the most gorgeous lips that he just wants to ravish and…
"Stop it!" Mitsui yelled. He has had enough. He should stop thinking of Rukawa from now on. No more Rukawa Kaede. No more Mr. Nice Guy. No more sleepless nights of thinking about him. No more.
"No more…" Mitsui said softly as he lay down on his bed. He placed his left arm over his forehead, praying for sleep to come. Please let me sleep kami-sama.
But, aren't you worried about Rukawa, sempai? Aren't you worried why he just came running without a single word? You may know what is happening…
"I don't know anything." Mitsui said aloud.
But you know that there is something wrong with the boy. You know that it is his attitude to bow his head ever so low whenever he feels defeated or troubled. You know it, sempai because you saw him do it more that once!
More than once. He sure saw Rukawa Kaede bow his head like that for the first time when they lost to Kainan. He saw the younger boy in the bench lower his head as if ready to be beheaded. Then he saw him do it up close when they had their confrontation last week.
"Rukawa…" Mitsui uttered and before he knew what was happening, his feet were already carrying him rapidly towards Rukawa's place. He looked at his Tag Heuer watch and it said ten fifty-three to him.
And here he was, right in front of the door of Rukawa's flat. Everything was silent except for some rustling of wind against trees. He drew in a deep breath.
"Okay, I'm here already. No turning back." Mitsui thought.
Oh yes, sempai, no turning back. In fact, you should have said it a long, long time ago.
Mitsui knocked thrice. No answer. Thinking that the boy was already asleep, he knocked once more, this time more loudly. Still, there was no answer from the inside. Even a slight flick of sound he could not hear. He then went for the doorknob, enclosing it his right hand. He was about to open the door when he hesitated.
Why stop now, Hisashi? You've already started this, don't stop. One more brooding and you might be too late…
Mitsui then turned the doorknob and found it surprisingly unlocked. He stepped inside and gently closed the door behind him. All lights were turned off and the only source of light was coming through the tied curtains of sliding windows, across the foyer.
"Rukawa?" Mitsui called out calmly. He took off his Chucks and walked towards the living room. No one. He turned towards the dinning area and still no sign of Rukawa. He then found a door, which he supposed, was the younger boy's room. He slowly walked towards it, careful as not to trip on some coffee table and ottoman.
He slowly turned the knob and went inside. As he went, the excessive light of the room coming from moonlight suddenly blinded his eyes that made him cover it with his arm. When his vision finally adjusted, a sudden rush of dread filled his body that it made him froze from where he was standing.
Rukawa was standing with his back against Mitsui, staring blankly into the moon.
If that had been the case, Mitsui would have grabbed him and give him a ruffle in the head for making him worry. But it wasn't the case he was expecting that made him stood there frozen.
Rukawa was holding a knife in his right hand and Mitsui was damn sure he was gripping it tightly. Mitsui didn't know what to do. He was already sweating coldly and he couldn't move his body from fear of what Rukawa might do.
"Rukawa…" Mitsui said gently, trying his best as to not frighten the boy.
Rukawa turned around facing Mitsui. And seeing Rukawa's face made Mitsui's insides turn into a notch. Mitsui was fighting the urge to embrace the boy, seeing how Rukawa stared at him blankly as if in a trance. Oh God, Kaede…
And Mitsui's nightmare hasn't stopped there. As if Rukawa sensed that he was a threat, he slowly but accurately positioned the knife parallel to his neck.
"Don't come near me." Rukawa said menacingly as if trying to scare Mitsui or whomever he thinks is threatening him.
"Rukawa, put it down", Mitsui said pleadingly, not knowing how his voice was already trailing off, "its me, Mitsui."
As if hearing nobody, Rukawa pushed the knife more closely to his neck, the blade already touching his skin. Mitsui swallowed hard, convincing himself that Rukawa would not do it.
No, not Rukawa.
"Kaede, please", Mitsui beseeched not realizing that he called the boy by his first name. "Put the knife down, Kaede."
As if his words reached the boy, Rukawa's right hand faltered for a second.
"Kaede…" Mitsui repeated, trying to persuade the boy.
Just then and there, Rukawa spoke as if he was awoken from a trance. "Sempai."
Hearing his name being called, hope strengthened him, making him smile a little from relief. "Its me, Kaede. Now, put the knife down."
And without any hesitation, Rukawa released the knife, letting it fall on the carpeted floor, creating a small 'thud'.
"Its okay, Kaede." Mitsui said controlling his best not to cry. Not knowing if it's because of happiness or relief.
"Sempai…" Rukawa managed to say, his head still bowed when he felt Mitsui's arms enclosed him.
"Kaede…" Was all Mitsui could say as he embrace the younger boy. Slowly, Rukawa's arms encircled him, too, resting his head on Mitsui's nape.
"Sempai…" Rukawa said as he tried to suppress his sobs, burying his head more on Mitsui's nape.
Both of them couldn't find the words to say. And maybe there was no need to.
Mitsui tightened his embrace more as he slowly realizes they were falling to the floor. He then leaned towards the side of the bed as he cradled Rukawa in his arms, placing his head atop of the younger boy's.
"Shhhh…" Mitsui comforted, trying to ease Rukawa, "all's well, Kaede."
Hearing this made Rukawa cry even more. What was I thinking? Am I trying to kill myself? He thought warily.
"They killed my parents, sempai." Rukawa said in between sobs. "They burned them alive."
Hearing what Rukawa said, Mitsui could only embrace the boy more. Suddenly, flashes of Mitsui's past came crossing. Mitsui Hisashi at the young age of eight crying his hearts out as he saw his own mother slowly being taken away by cancer. Mitsui at ten, tall for his age and far more beautiful for a common boy staring blankly at a tomb engraved with his father's name.
For the past eight years of his life, he victoriously hid those stinging memories of his past. Until now, as he listens to a raven hair boy crying helplessly in the crook of his arms, crying out for his mother and father again and again. And what can he do? What did hedo when he also suffered the same way? Ironically, he also tried to end his life.
For three hours, Mitsui cradled Rukawa in his arms, comforting the young boy as he intermittently cry then breaking down in an uneasy sleep. Leaning beside the bed for support, he pulled the blanket from the bed and covered them both for warmth.
And being the light sleeper that he was, he would always hush Rukawa every time he feels the younger boy break into small sobs. He would massage the boy's back, trying to ease the tension building in Rukawa. And thankfully, after nearly four hours, Rukawa was already sleeping more normally, so Mitsui finally drifted into a more peaceful slumber with the boy in his arms.
Rukawa's body was aching all over. He could still remember how Didiere had said that there was an accident in Italy, where Rukawa's parents were residing for their business. He said that a fire broke on their mansion at the middle of the night, while Rukawa's parents were sleeping. Unfortunately, both of them haven't survived the fire, being trapped and suffocated inside the mansion, there was no way out.
And Rukawa Kaede could do nothing but stare at the darkness confounded, tears silently streaming on his cheeks. What could he do now? He was all alone for the rest of his life. With no one to help him or even comfort him at this time of grief.
He quickly went home without even bothering to say what was happening to his captain. Didiere offered a ride to him but he quickly declined it, thinking that he needs to be alone. He would walk on the streets and would sometimes break into a run if ever he felt his eyes burning again with tears. For the third time in his life, Rukawa cried.
Rukawa Kaede wasn't a quiet boy he used to when he was young. Like other six years old kid, he would also play with his schoolmates and would laugh heartily form others' jokes. But a day once came that changed his life forever. His parents were living him, not to abandon him but to directly control and manage their business abroad. And Rukawa Kaede detested it. He didn't want to be left alone with only a nanny to take care of him. He wanted to be with his parents.
He begged for their permission to come with them but his mother disapproved of his persistence. And Rukawa Kaede said no more. From that day onwards he already refused to talk. His friendly attitude suddenly turned into an aversive demeanor. And when the day the day came for his parents to leave, he only watched indifferently as his parents board on a plane, waving their hands to him. But before his parents went away, his mother went into his room one night and tried to talk to him.
"Kaede", his mother spoke gently, "you know that we are doing this for you and your future."
"…"
"You know, you'll meet more friends here so I don't want you to leave this country because I know that you love Japan." Her mother smiled at him. "And maybe one day when you go to high school, you would meet the person you'll fall in love with."
Hearing this made Rukawa reply nonchalantly, "I'll never fall in love."
And his mother only laughed lovingly. "Oh you'll fall in love someday, Kaede. You just wait and see."
"…" No. Rukawa Kaede didn't want to get involve with people anymore and more certainly, he didn't want to fall in love or be close to anybody because… they would just hurt him in the process. He was afraid that one day, his loved one would only leave him without even saying why. He didn't want to suffer that. This one was enough.
His mother kissed him in the forehead. "You know, if ever you find that person that you think you will love more than your life, do not doubt that feeling. It only comes once and if you let it go, you will be the loser."
Hearing the word 'loser' made Rukawa Kaede's head looked up to his mother. No, he didn't want to be the loser. He never wanted to lose. And seeing how his son reacted to what she said, her mother laughed again. "Don't fight the feeling, Kaede. And maybe someday, when you'll meet that person, I want you to introduce that person to us and say 'Mom, Dad, this is the person whom I'll love for the rest of my life.'"
Hearing this made Rukawa blushed and his mother couldn't help but smile at his son's reaction.
"It's too cliched." Rukawa retorted. His mother ruffled his hair and said, "It is. But it won't be if you're in love."
"I'll never be." And with that stubborn answer, his mother embraced him.
And that was the last time he ever saw his mother's beautiful face. Every passing year, as Rukawa Kaede grew up he would always be receiving a round trip ticket to Venice with and enclosed letter of from his mother telling him to come to Italy and visit her and his father. And for the past ten years of his life, he kept refusing it. He would only have a conversation with his mother, mostly through the telephone.
His mother was still the same loving mother she always was, asking if he was sleeping right or he was eating the right kinds of food. And neither of them spoke about why Rukawa Kaede never wants to go and meet them abroad.
"I'm fine, mom." Rukawa would always say. And his mother would always laugh at the other end of the line.
"I know, Kaede, I know."
"Then stop asking."
His mother laughed again, hearing that. "So, Kaede, have you found that person?"
"Found who?" Rukawa said disinterestedly.
"Have you found the person you've fallen in love with?"
Hearing what her mother said, Rukawa went blushing furiously, thanking that her mother was in Italy and not talking to him tete-a-tete. But as if her mother was seeing him she asked, "ahhh…who is it?"
That conversation of theirs just happened two weeks ago, which means he's already falling for Mitsui that time.
"No one." Rukawa refused indignantly. And her mother only laughed more at what she was hearing.
"Oh for goodness sake Kaede, I'm your mother!" His mother said. "I know everything about you!"
"You don't. We haven't seen each other for ten years."
"I see you in your photographs."
"But not face to face, mom." But his mother just laughed at the insinuations. And forced him more. "Come on Kaede, tell me who is it? And don't try to change the topic, young man."
"I said no one!" Rukawa said sternly, his face still burning. "I'm going to be late for school, mom. I'll call again sometime."
His mother laughed again. "Okay, honey. Take care of yourself." And with that, the line went dead.
But Rukawa's face hasn't yet returned to its normal hue. He was still blushing.
"Stop blushing." He thought.
Why stop pretty boy? Aren't you getting the goosebumps every time you think of him and his beautiful body and his beautiful smile that could make your knees go weak and that musk of his that could make you want to ravish him for the rest of the night?
"I said stop it." Rukawa ordered. "I don't love him."
If you say so, super-rookie. If you say so…
"… Love him…" Slowly, Rukawa's eyes opened. And his cheeks suddenly went from pallid to burning red as he saw Mitsui's face so close to him.
"Sempai…" Rukawa whispered. As his senses woke, he realized that they were lying on the floor of his bedroom with his blanket draped over them and Mitsui's arms encircled around him in a protective manner. Their faces were so close that Rukawa could hear Mitsui's light breathing, gesturing that he was still asleep.
And slowly Rukawa gazed at his sempai's features. The room was brightened enough by the sunlight from the window for him to see Mitsui's face more clearly. He could see Mitsui's delicate lips that he just wanted to kiss and that scar of his, which Rukawa thinks, adds to his sempai's appeal. Unconsciously, his fingers gently traced Mitsui's scar repeating the motion slowly.
Rukawa was so immense in touching Mitsui's scar that he was late to realized two blue orbs were already staring directly at him. At first, he didn't want to return back the gaze but instinctively he slowly looked up at Mitsui, too.
Not realizing that his fingers were still placed on his sempai's scar. Mitsui gently took Rukawa's hand in his, squeezed it lightly and smiled at him sweetly. That simple action made Rukawa's face brighten even more.
"What time is it?' Mitsui uttered.
And Rukawa could only stare at him with his cheeks burning as a reply. He was thinking that Mitsui was having a dream and that he should wake him up but as Mitsui spoke again, he realized that he was absolutely wrong.
"Rukawa, are you okay?" Hearing this made Rukawa's heart ache for his mother.
"Oh yes, mother. I've already found the man I'll love more than my life. And he is currently lying beside me, comforting me." Rukawa thought. And unconsciously, tears started to spring into his eyes again.
He was the one who saved me from the darkness, Rukawa thought. He was the one who called my name in the middle of the night, trying to save me from oblivion. I'll never be alone again, am I, mom?
Seeing Rukawa crying again, Mitsui wiped the tears away from the younger boy's eyes. "Hey, stop crying."
"I can't." Rukawa said helplessly. Just then and there, Mitsui gently pulled Rukawa's head toward him and kissed him in the forehead lovingly. And that gesture made Rukawa cry even more. He then buried his head on Mitsui's chest, cursing himself for being such a crybaby, when he was the renowned Ice Prince.
And Mitsui couldn't help but relate to Rukawa's sorrow. He embraced the boy more, comforting him again. "All's well, Kaede. I'm here. You're not alone. You'll never be."
And Rukawa could only cry more, breaking into more sobs. He was weeping for the death of his parents, for his longing for his mother and for his love for the man cradling him in his arms.
Maybe, just maybe, mom, I'll never be alone again.
TBC?
A/N: Should I also continue? I mean it's already too long and I swear on my biopsych book that it will take a dozen chapters more to end my telenovela… I think I just need a little more encouragement or discouragement? You decide if should end this now or if I should continue. Please tell me what your thoughts are… I really appreciate it… I just feel downcast this moment… don't know why…
REVIEW please… now I really suck T T