Disclaimer: They don't belong to me. I know. Don't sue me.

Author's note: This is Rukawa's Point of View. A bit OC but what the hey, try to enjoy it, if you can't then don't flame me. Sorry for the late updates.

I. Tryst : Someone was using Rukawa's name in a chatroom. Kaede found out that this guy seemed to be very fond of Hanamichi. Then Haruko called up and invited the raven boy to Akagi's party.

CHAPTER II: ACCUMULATION

He didn't go to the party, he changed his mind. The moment his mom nod her sleepy head after telling her about 'going out and sleeping in a friend's house', the chatroom incident quickly left his mind together with Haruko's invitation. And besides his reason was evident, 'I am not a party person.'

He was holding a ball hoping to practice in the nearby court when he saw an advertisement saying 'Too much milk?'. 'Haven't I had enough of practice already?' he suddenly thought. 'Nah!' he said, leaving the idea of a person having too much practice or milk drown in the night devoid of heat.

The sky was dark, there wasn't any stars appearing. The full moon was eerie, it felt something creepy that seemed to float in the air. 'Don't scare yourself Kaede.' He said trying to be brave. The number one rookie of Shohoku, who everyone likes to be is scared of the dark? He remembered the incident when he was a child, holding a candle after the lights suddenly went out. That moment where you can't see anything beyond the darkness – the absence of light – was imprinted in his memory.

He impulsively shrugged. 'Focus on practice. Focus on Sendoh. Concentrate!' He repeatedly reminded himself. 'Damn he's hot.' He suddenly thought. 'Sendoh? Nani?' He was surprised how that Ryonan player seemed ardent in his head. 'I'm nuts.' Concluding the train of thoughts that was formed in his psyche. 'This is stupid.' He said before seeing the lights that emanated from the public court.

'Someone is playing, at this hour? Who could that idiot be?' He said. Obviously surprised how anyone could be playing ball at this hour. Actually he didn't thought anybody would be as much absurd as he is to play at this hour.

When he finally got to the barbed fence, the people who were playing have just finished their game. Three guys sat on the nearby bench clearly perspiring from the match. Rukawa stood near a tree to conceal himself, he thought it best to wait before these idiots leave the place so he could practice in alone. The three guys were ordinary students from Shohoku high. 'Why at this hour?' Rukawa kept on asking himself as he can't see why these guys chose to play at half past ten at night.

"Damn it, Rukawa is so hot!" The blond guy said while wiping the sweat running down his cheeks.
"You said so, that fucking lad knows how to play ball." The other guy replied after drinking some water.
"He sure is one hell of a player" Said the small guy who was dribbling the ball and made an attempt to shoot.
The three of them started to laugh.

'Fags.' Rukawa thought. Though deep inside he was flattered by the admiration these young boys have in him. He knew he is the best. And damn it, he will be the only one who can play ball that good.

"It's a pity he has a boyfriend." The small guy said, cutting the laughter that the group shared.

'Boyfriend? The fuck is going on here!' Rukawa thought, as he was now all ears on the conversation the group was making. The eavesdropping made him perspire a little, thinking what the hell were these boys talking about.

"Yeah, that lucky little fucker. And to think that he was once a gangster." The blond said.
"But to tell you guys the truth, I think they are a cute couple." The guy with brown haired remarked.
"Yeah, who could be better for Rukawa than one of his team mate? It's so cool." The blond assumed.

'Sakuragi? Why are talking about Sakuragi. I knew it." He remembered the chat he had moments ago. The person who used his name might be Sakuragi. "What the hell is going on here?' The eavesdropping rookie player thought, as he was about to let these guys know that he was there. Rukawa was about to dribble the ball he was holding when he heard the small guy said.
"Mitsui sure is one happy lover having Rukawa around."

He frozed. The ball dropped from the hand of raven-haired guy, and the sound that it made caused the three guys to look at a confused basketball player holding a gym bag and staring blankly ahead.

He arrived, finally. With his disheveled hair and semi-dirty top, it'll be a wonder if these guys won't guess that he's been on a fight.
Ding.dong.
'I need to fucking know,' Rukawa muttered. 'That's why I'm here." Ding.dong.
"Who the hell is spreading rumors about me?" He asked the door.
"I am not a fag!" Rukawa said, his tome slightly louder than usual. He didn't realize that the door has been opened and a confused guy was staring at him.
"You're not?" Kogure asked.

TBC...

Read and Review 04-15-05