Disclaimer: Don't own them sorry… :) Although I'm introducing a character in this chapter…
Warning: I already warned you guys in the previous numbers ne?
Notes: this isn't following any REAL story line… it's a bit of AU except for the fact that they are still them!
Pairing: see for yourselves… I already gave you a hint that it would be a love triangle…
Yey! The sixth chapter! How utterly surprising I survived!!!…
So everyone… here's the story… a little plot development here and there… please do tell me if it sucks… or if you want me to stop or delete this thing…
(Oh yeah… Saki Fuyu is Rukawa's ex-crush from Tomigaoka junior high…)
I would like to thank everyone who reviewed:
Chismbeng, asteria13, Diwata, imjusakyd, sweetdude, Red, Torn Piece adn Ruby…I really appreciate your constructive criticisms!! I will try my best!
Italics are thoughts or dreams… it's pretty obvious which is which ne?6: And I Hoped
Sendoh rested his back against the tree, with Haruko's head on his lap. He was startled at first— but then relaxed when he realized that she was fast asleep.
I can't blame her for leaving in the middle of the game… he thought as he absent-mindedly played with her brown locks, heck… I would have left— if I saw…
He shook his head. No… she couldn't have left because of… me… It's impossible— maybe she just couldn't stand not cheering for her Rukawa-kun… Sendoh sighed, allowing himself to drift off into dreamland.
Rukawa, however, couldn't go into dreamland… no matter how hard he tried.
He could still see her sneering face… her diabolical expression… her dark slightly-bluish hair and eyes… her amazing, slim model-figure…
She was just like he remembered her…
Rukawa fisted his hands and stiffened. He didn't want to think about her… He didn't want to ruin the good feeling he had (from winning the basketball game).
But there are some things only the sub-conscious mind controls…
Fuyu Saki, junior high sweetheart.
Rukawa Kaede, junior high basketball star.
They were both popular— both with cold blue eyes— and were both utterly manipulative… although Rukawa did it in a subtle manner. They were every guy and girl's fantasy…
Saki hated Rukawa…
Rukawa hated Saki… or so he thought…
"Rukawa," said Saki, in her utterly monotonous cold voice.
"Saki," acknowledged Rukawa, in the same (utterly-monotonous-cold— UMC—) voice.
"Listen, I was never the one to beat around the bush… so… I'll get to the point. Rukawa, I want you to pose as my boyfriend…"
"…? Is this a joke?"
"No jokes Rukawa. You know me. I'll pay you for your services…"
"I don't need money."
Saki sighed and put her lips together in annoyance, "well… you're gonna have to do it for free then!"
"Why me?" Rukawa asked in his UMC voice. It didn't even sound like a question.
"Because," she sounded exasperated for some reason. Did she honestly think she could get THE Kaede Rukawa that easily?
"Because, Mr. Rukawa, I want to be a model…"
"…?" Rukawa merely gave her a blank look.
"I'm pretty popular HERE… but not enough… I want you to bring me to your little basketball games and treat me all kind and stuff… I want you to pamper me, Rukawa… I want the media to be interested on the girl who melted the Tomigaoka junior high ice prince's heart…"
Rukawa stood up. "What have I to gain from this little scheme of yours?"
"Matte— Rukawa… onegai," she muttered, lightly touching his wrist. She had this affect on people… one touch and— WHAM!— you're dead… or at least, frozen.
Rukawa stopped dead in his tracks. He didn't turn around— because turning around would be like selling his soul to the devil herself… (haha! Stopping it right there… for a little cliffy effect! Will continue the rest of the story in the next number…)
Haruko stirred and gently lifted herself to sitting position again, not realizing that she was beside Sendoh— until she actually looked at him.
She almost screamed in surprise, but was able to stop herself in time. I have been sleeping on Sendoh's lap the whole time? She blushed slightly as she looked at the Ryonan ace's sleeping figure.
He looked like an angel— wait… angel is an understatement… He looked so frail and innocent… and he—
he's waking up… hide Haruko!
Too late.
Sendoh noticed what she had been doing and smiled widely, secretly jumping for joy at the discovery that she had been admiring him whilst he was asleep.
"H-how long have you been awake?" asked Haruko nervously.
"Not too long ago," answered Sendoh, stretching his limbs and yawning contentedly.
Haruko bit her lower lip. Not too long ago… then he— saw… She blushed beet red.
"H-h-how was the game?" she asked, desperate for a change of topic.
"We lost…" Sendoh smiled, as if he was telling her 'we won…'
"Oh… I'm sorry." Great… really tactful, Haruko… utterly tactful…
"Why are you sorry? It wasn't your fault…"
"Uh… well… I'm sorry for bringing it up…"
"Don't be…" muttered Sendoh, brushing a stray strand of hair out of her eyes.
For a moment, he lingered his hand on her delicate ear… then he dropped it, almost too quickly, and apologized. Always the gentleman, ne, Sendoh?
"So… uhm… are you mad at me?" Haruko asked. She had actually been thinking about that question for quite a while already— but never got around to asking.
"No. Why should I be?" Sendoh smiled again, sending weird feeling of happiness inside Haruko's spine.
"C-coz… I left?"
"Iie… I respect your decision…" There… not too emotional… not too Rukawa-ish! Great job, Sendoh! He mentally patted himself on the back.
"Thanks," muttered Haruko, finally realizing that she should treat Sendoh more like a friend and less like an enemy… She leaned against the tree beside him and relaxed.
Sendoh hesitated a bit before taking her hand in his.
No complaints? He thought nervously, What if she'll turn me down? What if she'll jerk her hand away? Oh why am I acting like a love-foolish teenager?
Haruko didn't do any of the things he feared, instead, she gave his hand a little squeeze and leaned against him, sighing contentedly.
Maybe… just maybe…Rukawa couldn't sleep.
It was too early. The sun was too bright. The singing birds were too noisy.
He needed a walk… jog… anything…
He pulled on his normal street clothes and exited his apartment.
The park… that would be a good place to rest, he thought to himself as he made his way down the street.
He decided that he didn't need his bike since the park was only a few minutes away.
He walked silently (as usual) and just stared blankly ahead. He could see couples on the benches, on the grass and near the trees.
He wanted to scoff at them.
They actually think they're in love? Love is just some anonymous word they use to describe when you're feeling ANYTHING— whether you're feeling good, bad, happy, sad, outraged, mad, betrayed, possessive and all that…
Love is not real… it does not exist.
'Yeah, keep telling yourself that and you just might believe it,' a cynic voice inside his head said.
Whatever…Rukawa could see two familiar figures by the bridge.
I should go, he thought.
But his curiosity got the best of him.
He slowly made his way to the two people under the tree.
It wouldn't hurt to find out, would it?
Just as Rukawa could make out who the two people under the tree were, a voice stopped him.
"Rukawa?" asked a cold female voice.
Rukawa froze.
It's her…Curiosity kills the fox… he could practically hear Sakuragi taunt him.
— end of 6—
Yeah… I know the whole scene with Saki and Rukawa is a tad bit confusing— but give it time… let the story unravel itself before your eyes… :)
Don't flame me! If you plan on doing so…. Please send it to my e-mail address personally…
My e-mail address is in my profile…
So… uh… please review!
