Ocean Waves

There was only one week left before the new school year would start, and this was the last day he would be spending at this training camp with the All-Japan young athletes' team. Much as Rukawa Kaede resented the idea of returning to school, it was something of a relief to know he would soon be back in the comfort of his own home.

Dawn had barely broken, but Rukawa was already out of his dormitory and making his way down towards the nearby beach. He usually took this time of day to jog as an extra part of his training, but as it was his final day there, he decided to take the chance to have one last, long look at the beautiful scenery.

He strolled leisurely down along the beach, his shoes in one hand, just deep enough in the tide for the waves to wash away the footprints he didn't want left behind.

He'd miss this beach when he returned to Kanagawa, Rukawa knew. Back home everything was a little too familiar, and it's difficult to take long walks like this without running into someone he knew, or claimed to know him. On too many occasions he had been approached by one or some of his so-called 'fans' when all he was a little time to himself, here he never had that problem.

Although, that particular morning, Rukawa's main objective wasn't to be alone.

He knew he wouldn't be the only one on that beach that morning, even in such early hours. Somewhere down the far end of his walk, he knew he'd run into someone who also knew him, and knew him all but a little too well.

It seemed like a bizarre coincidence, Rukawa had discovered on his first jogging session, that this was the same place Sakuragi Hanamichi had been sent to for this rehabilitation program. In fact the rehab center was no more than a twenty-minute walk from Rukawa's training camp.

When Rukawa first spotted him, he had been grinning like an idiot at a piece of paper he was holding – a letter, as Rukawa later found out, from some girl back home – and then suddenly he looked up. There had been a brief moment of surprise as he recognized Rukawa, before a short-but-rapid verbal fight between them took place.

Since then Rukawa has made a routine out of it, and for some odd reason Hanamichi seemed to follow it too. Every morning, at almost the same time, Rukawa would pass by the spot on the sand where Hanamichi would be sitting, and a similar scene as that which happened on the first day would take place.

About once a week though, the red-haired fool would be too engrossed in reading letters from that girl to pay attention to anything else. On those occasions, he wouldn't even notice it when Rukawa ran past him – twice – and hence they'd go by that day without speaking at all.

Not today, however.

It didn't take him long to spot Hanamichi, but Rukawa was surprised to see that he wasn't sitting up as usual, but lying flat on his back, eyes closed as if he was asleep.

When Rukawa arrived beside Hanamichi, he nudged him softly in the side with his foot.

"Oi, you still alive?"

Large brown eyes opened in shock, and immediately took on a look of fury.

"Humph!" Hanamichi grunted, but he didn't bother retaliating, nor did he make any move to get up.

Rukawa was surprised, and slightly taken aback, it wasn't like Hanamichi to ignore an insult like that.

"What's wrong with you?"

"I broke my back playing basketball, remember?" the response was sarcastic and bitter.

"It's not broken you idiot"

"Oh yeah? And when did you suddenly become a doctor?"

Rukawa frowned, obviously Hanamichi was in a foul mood that morning, but he hadn't the faintest idea why. For most of the past few weeks Hanamichi had been insisting that his back was fine and he'd be back to beat Rukawa any day now. The sudden change of attitude disturbed him.

"Seriously, what's wrong?" He demanded.

"Nothing, my life is perfect" The other boy spat out disdainfully.

"You don't sound like you mean that"

"Oh yeah? So what do I mean then?"

"Why are you being such a jerk?" with his one effort at being nice rejected, Rukawa was growing impatient.

"I thought you reckoned I was always a jerk"

"No, I've reckoned you were always an idiot"

"Big difference"

"What the heck is the matter with..."

"Rukawa!" Hanamichi yelled, not allowing him to finish "Just leave me alone okay?"

Though he himself had many times requested that of others, Rukawa didn't expect to take as much offence from Hanamichi's outburst as he did.

"Fine!" He retorted "I don't have any time to waste here with you anyway"

"Yeah, you better get back and train hard so you'd stand a chance with making the national team" Hanamichi glared up at him spitefully.

"I'd make it sooner than you ever will"

As soon as he said that, Rukawa regretted it, the hurt and anger on Hanamichi's face struck back at him harder than anything physical could've done.

"Just get lost Rukawa" Hanamichi hissed, closing his eyes "Quit been such a pain"

"Ch'"

Dejected and feeling very much annoyed, Rukawa just wanted to turn back to his camp and completely ignore the fact Hanamichi ever existed. But for some reason he couldn't bring himself to just leave, something was troubling this boy whom he begrudgingly called a teammate, and his behavior made Rukawa uneasy.

As he was trying to make up his mind of what to do, he heard a soft murmur behind him.

"Sorry"

The apology sounded almost sincere, Rukawa couldn't help but take a glance backwards. He has never heard Hanamichi apologizing before, he never even thought he'd be capable of such a thing.

Hanamichi's eyes were still closed, but his brows were knitted and lips pressed together in such a way that he looked as if he was trying not to cry.

Slightly alarmed, Rukawa knelt down on the sand beside him and asked cautiously "You sure you're okay?"

Very slowly, Hanamichi shook his head.

"What's wrong?"

"Why do you care?"

"I..." Rukawa stuttered "I don't care"

"Then why are you asking?"

"I... just don't like your attitude"

"Humph"

"And besides..." Rukawa said as apathetically as he could, sitting down and trying to get comfortable "I don't want you acting like this when we get back to school, those seniors and Ayako-san would be all concerned about you and I don't want any distractions"

"Is that all?"

"...Yes"

"Well then..." Hanamichi finally opened his eyes and looked at him "You have nothing to worry about"

"Hn?"

"There won't be any distractions, not from me anyway"

"What do you mean?"

Hanamichi bit his lip, and shifted his gaze to the ocean. A moment of silence later he took a deep breath, and said with little emotion:

"I'm not gonna be there"

"Huh?"

"I won't be going back"

"What?" Rukawa jolted "What are you talking about?"

"When the school year begins, I'm not returning to Shouhoku"

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A/N: Happy RuHana Day 2004 (Belated as though this may be)! Reviews much appreciated.