THANKS TO ALL WHO REVIEWED!!!

Disclaimer: Don't own them sorry… :) If I did… Rukawa would be MINE! But he's not… so there…

Warning: I already warned you guys in the previous numbers ne?

Notes: I'm sorry to disappoint you guys— but this fic isn't a yaoi… of course— I'm apologizing to those who love shonen-ai things… :)

Pairing: isn't it already obvious? Sendoh/Haruko/Rukawa… ooh! Two hotties!

Yey! The fifth chapter! How utterly surprising I survived!!!… THANKS TO ALL WHO REVIEWED!!!! :)

So everyone… here's the story… a little plot development here and there… and a huge basketball game…

(Oh yeah… Saki Fuyu is Rukawa's ex-crush from Tomigaoka junior high…)

oh yeah… it's kinda hard to imagine Rukawa with a crush ne? Never fear! I shall explain myself in the next number… so stay tuned!

5: My Whole Life Through

Haruko led Saki to the spectator seats, after muttering a "good luck" to Sendoh. She didn't exactly know why she sat beside Saki (they were from different schools ne?), but didn't have any choice of the matter.

She looked around, searching for her friends, hoping they were watching the game also.

"Hey… Haruko, is it?" said Saki, tapping Haruko's hand, "who's that guy?".

"Which guy?" asked Haruko, squinting a little.

"The pale one… with black hair… number 11 of Shohoku…" muttered Saki.

"Oh… that's Rukawa…" She tried her best not to blush.

"Kaede Rukawa? That guy from junior high?" She smiled widely, "well… well… well… small world ne?"

"You knew Rukawa?"

"It was a fairly long time ago… a very long time ago…"

"Really? Then you should go see him after the game!"

"I don't think that's such a good idea Haruko…"

"Why? Come on, I'll accompany you…"

"Okay… but only for a short while." Saki sighed and leaned against the chair. Rukawa… we meet again…

The referee called both teams into the court.

Rukawa looked spitefully at Sendoh, who merely smiled and shrugged. "Tch," muttered Rukawa, giving the porcupine-head his infamous death glare. I'm gonna beat you Sendoh… he silently vowed.

Sendoh smiled his famous swoon-worthy smile in return and took his position.

The whistle and the jump ball started the game.

Akagi passed it to Miyagi, their point-guard, who immediately outran his defender. It was a fast break, everyone knew, since it was Miyagi's specialty— with the help of Mitsui, which scored their first point.

Everyone in Shohoku, except Haruko cheered.

Sendoh checked, and smiled when he realized she had indeed kept her promise.

Rukawa frowned a bit, thinking that Haruko was probably cheering for Ryonan. He didn't see the girl beside Haruko at all.

"Your team's good ne?" muttered Saki.

"They practice very hard," said Haruko.

"Indeed they do."

Haruko fell silent. A part of her wanted to keep the promise she made to Sendoh— but a part of her wanted to cheer for Rukawa… She was confused… she didn't even know why she agreed to what Sendoh said…

But the kiss…

Haruko placed a hand on her lips. It was quick… but why do I feel like this?

What have you done to me Sendoh? Haruko asked silently.

Saki regarded the girl beside her carefully. She noticed that something was troubling Haruko and looked at who the latter was staring at…

It was already the end of the 1st half, with Shohoku leading with 32-30. A fairly small lead, but hard-earned nevertheless.

Rukawa didn't seem to care though, carrying his usual blank expression and not even breaking a sweat. Nobody knew that he was thinking about ways to beat Sendoh and show everyone he was the better ace.

He sighed inaudibly.

He then glanced over to where Haruko was sitting, and the girl with a dark blue hair immediately caught her attention. Oh shit… it's HER… He wanted to drop dead right then and there.

He immediately shifted his gaze to the idiot Sakuragi who was prancing around, declaring that he was the Tensai who caused their 1st half victory.

"Do'aho," he muttered, a bit thankful that Sakuragi never seemed to stop making him forget problems he previously thought about.

Haruko couldn't take it anymore.

It was unnerving… very unnerving watching both Sendoh and Rukawa play against each other like they were taunting and challenging the latter.

She decided to go out of the gym.

"I just remembered I need to do something… when can meet with Rukawa another day ne? I really should be going," muttered Haruko to Saki, as she got her bag and left inconspicuously.

I'm sorry Sendoh… it seems like I couldn't keep my promise…

Haruko proceeded to the bridge, where she and Sendoh had first met. She sat, with her feet dangling at the end, and sighed.

You're in love with Sendoh, aren't you?

Of course not! I love Rukawa! She argued with herself.

Then why didn't you cheer for Shohoku? If Uozomi asked you to sit still, would you do it?

Of course not… what does that have to do with anything?

So… with the same request, you favor Sendoh over Uozomi.

Well… duh! That's Sendoh and the other's a monkey…

Just admit it… you like Sendoh… teased the same voice at the back of her mind.

"I don't… I like Rukawa," she muttered to herself, as if trying to convince herself that it was true…

Where is she? Thought Sendoh, glancing at the empty seat beside Saki. He looked around the gymnasium but he didn't see Haruko anywhere…

"Oy! Smiley!" shouted a certain red-head from behind.

Sendoh pasted on his well-practiced killer smile and faced the noisy monkey.

"I'll beat you!" Sakuragi proclaimed loudly.

"…"

"Then I'll beat Rukawa!"

"…Do'aho…" he suddenly appeared from behind Sakuragi.

"Hello," Sendoh greeted the glaring Ice Prince.

"Hn," Rukawa left as soon as her arrived.

Sendoh's smile never faltered as he continued to silently taunt the latter.

"It's time for the second half," the referee said, his whistle already between his lips.

Shohoku won… all thanks to Rukawa's unexpected last-minute 3-point shot. (sorry if I didn't do details on the game guys…!)

Sendoh didn't care much. (He called it, "home court advantage")

He immediately left the gym, not even waiting for his teammates.

"I'm sorry guys," he had said, "I have something to do… hope you understand."

"Of course," they said.

"Thanks…"

He then went to the bridge, glad to see Haruko, leaning against the tree— fast asleep.

"Haruko…" muttered Sendoh, bending over and lightly caressing her face.

"Mm.." Haruko shifted, so she was practically sleeping on Sendoh's lap.

Sendoh's eyes widened in surprise.

He experienced a weird feeling of warmth in the depths of his heart.

Love? Nah… Can't be…

—end of 5—

Please tell me whether or not to continue… :S I'm starting to get the feeling no one's reading this…

Please review…

honto? I didn't see any mistakes... :S I must be utterly blind!