Hey guys...back with another chapter...sorry it might've taken some time, but I've got it all sorted out..hehe...
Hana - I know...they're both very OOC...but I think I like it that way...if everyone was predictable, what would life be?
Archangel Barton - Thanks! Glad you feel that way... you can remember the chemistry between both of them inthe series ne?
Blufox - I love you too! (winks) hehe well here ya go...so don't kill me just yet...
Jam - Another chapter for you!
Thanks guys...my first few reviews...really made my day...hope to see more!
Sardonic
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimers: I don't own anything in this fic. Not Rukawa, not Sendoh (sob) but at least I own the fic.
Chapter 1: Encounters
Rukawa had seen Sendoh walking in from across the court. He didn't stop himself from staring. Sendoh looked handsome today.
Rukawa snorted. As if he wasn't always…
Sendoh scanned the court. Then he looked at Rukawa.
Rukawa wasn't afraid. Why should he be? He took Sendoh's stare head-on.
For a few seconds, they just looked at each other, and all the other people around them faded into nothing. Rukawa felt light-headed. He steadied himself as the world turned shaky.
When Rukawa regained himself he saw Sendoh was already gone. He was by his friend, Koshino, with the rest of the team.
Rukawa let his eyes linger on Sendoh. Although it was plain obvious, Rukawa wondered to himself, 'Was Sendoh really looking at me?'
Sendoh smiled. He was wearing the white Nikes.
Somehow Sendoh had always preferred the white ones to the black ones.
"Akira!" It was Koshino. He was waving Sendoh over.
Sendoh took a last glance at Rukawa and then walked over to Koshino. He could feel Rukawa's gaze on him, burning into him. He wanted to look at Rukawa and say his name, but he held the feeling back. There were to be no signs of affection from him towards the boy.
Koshino patted Sendoh's back. "Come, let's go."
Sendoh looked up, dazed. "What?"
His friend laughed. "Day-dreaming again? The match is about to start."
Sendoh shook his head, trying to rid his mind of Rukawa. What the hell was he doing? He was about to have a match, and he was not focusing! Damn!
Rukawa was holding a basketball. Sendoh could see from the corner of his eye.
What was that about focus again?
Sendoh followed Koshino to their coach, who smiled at them encouragingly, patted Sendoh on the back. He told them that they were the strongest, that they were undefeatable. Then they walked out onto the court. Shohoku was beside them by the time Sendoh realized what was going on.
Sendoh felt numb. He couldn't play against Rukawa. Part of him wanted to truimph, but another wanted to give in to Rukawa, let him win.
Before, it had been different. He had never let his feelings come onto the court or into his playing. But now…Sendoh decided it was inevitable.
The whistle went. Sendoh snapped back to reality. Rukawa already had the ball.
He chased him. Oh, boy.
Rukawa shot, leaping high into the air. But Sendoh was in front of him, holding his hand up high, blocking him. Feeling Sendoh's sweaty body so close to his made Rukawa dizzy. He watched as the ball bounced off the side of the hoop.
Sakuragi had the rebound. He passed it to Akagi, who did a dunk, way on the other side of the court. The court felt so huge all of a sudden. Like a desert horizon, which didn't have an end. Rukawa felt helpless, like an ant in a colony.
"Akira!" Koshino flung the ball all the way to Sendoh. He got the ball and he dashed over to their side of the court. Rukawa ran after him.
He jumped, aimed, and shot. Rukawa guarded the shot but it went into the hoop, making the crowd cheer. Rukawa scowled.
Sendoh just smiled, his ego taking over. "Don't be angry with me, Rukawa."
Rukawa didn't say anything. He just turned and walked away.
Sendoh grabbed Rukawa's shoulder, spinning Rukawa around. "Rukawa."
"I won't walk away." Rukawa just answered, before he walked to his team, as they called a time-out. Every step he took crushed Sendoh's heart. He didn't know why, but it did.
Sendoh wanted to smile but he couldn't.
Once he had his back towards Sendoh, Rukawa closed his eyes and breathed in slowly. He had to go through this match. He must win! Being head over heels in love with his rival, Sendoh Akira, was no reason to not be playing well!
Rukawa stopped himself. What did he just say?
"Rukawa! You have to keep a close eye on Sendoh. He's been evading you." Coach's orders.
He nodded, understanding the seriousness of the situation. The whole team would be counting on him. He needed to make sure he didn't ruin their chances for the championship.
But as Rukawa walked back onto the court, he felt nauseous.
Shouts. Cheering. Balls, bouncing. Basketball shoes squeaking on the court. Rukawa wanted to grab something and hold on, to stop himself from falling. From falling, too fast. He was falling too fast.
Sendoh and many others, watched in horror, as Rukawa went crashing to the floor.
