Title: Cults and Crime organization

Disclaimer: Slam Dunk is not mine.

Pairing: Senru

Genre and Rating: Romance/Supernatural and PG-13

A/N: This will be unbelievably long, at least for me. Let me warn you that this is sort of close-minded, it will be focusing on Kaede and Akira. Mental telepathy will be expressed in (More A/N's at the end of the chapter.)

0o0o0o0

Chapter 7 (STILL January two)

The ants on the Rukawa residence are now having a feast with all the sweetness in the aura of the house.

It was five minutes before midnight. Kaede sighed silently. So, the ice prince actually got a friend, named Akira, not Sendoh? There's no big deal with that, though, but the question is somewhere in the vast sea of, well, the cult. What will his father say, now that he has a Christian best friend? AH! To hell with the cult and the religions! Why on the fucking Earth will that damn cult prevent his happiness?

Akira is sleeping on the chair at the side of his bed. That Akira, why is he so jolly all over? I mean, he can make me all happy. Why? He asked as he smiled. Then, he noticed Akira smiling in his sleep. "I wonder what he's dreaming about." He asked, caressing Akira's face. Then, an idea struck him. He can use his powers.

He placed his hands over Akira's head and closed his eyes, and eluded Akira's thoughts.

0i0i0i0i0i0

(A/n: Rukawa's thoughts for this part will be expressed in )

"You can call me Akira." Akira said. Candle light lightened his face, making his eyes more expressive than it can ever be. Kaede stared at the person before him, at loss for words.

He's actually dreaming of what happened this dinner?

Kaede thought for a while. He's very unused to this, or at least even keeping up with a normal conversation with people. Akira is still looking at him. Akira's eyes bore into his for what seemed to be a minute, waiting for him to at least speak.

Damn it! Don't remind me of what happened a while ago. That was very
unlikely of the so-called Rukawa Kaede, the ice prince!

Kaede bit his lower lip. He saw this once at Kenji's (Fujima) movie collection. What was the reply of the girl...? Damn it, that movie was romantic! Ah, the hell, I won't lose my only friend just because of that! What was the girl's reply?!!!! Oh...

"You can also call me Kaede..." He said, his voice very soft that it was almost unheard by Akira. He was very unsure by that response. Well, what do you expect by an as-cold-as-ice-boy? Akira smiled.

Unlike all smiles, which he hated, that smile was different. It was a true smile, reflecting all the emotions Akira was feeling that time.

Why on earth will he dream of what happened a while ago? It's embarrassing
enough already!

"Well then, Kaede, let's eat our dinner. I cooked this especially for you, so you can recover sooner. We'll go to the hospital tomorrow, right?" He said, smiling yet once more. Kaede wants to reflect the smile back, but, he being he, he just nodded, and ate his dinner.

And once more, the ants on the Rukawa residence feasted.

0i0i0i0i0i0i0

Rukawa placed his hands away from Akira's head. He blushed. OK. So that was not a very nice idea. He spotted a blot of black as he stretched. Which reminds him...?

He gasped. He forgot about the cult. Now, his father will surely get mad! Damn it! Why does bad luck happen at the most hated times? Now his father will get angry, and he can not even play basketball!

Disregarding the thought, he went back to his sleep. Well, we will deal with father tomorrow. He thought as he closed his eyes.

0o0o0o0o0 (Yippee! January 3)

It's raining outside. The sun hadn't waked up yet, and perhaps it will never wake up for this day. People in the place had expected that already, the weather forecast had already announced it earlier this week.

Inside one of the houses in Shohoku, there were two lads sleeping and one on the window sill, out in the cold, all wet, and furiously knocking. Tired of knocking, he used what the cult is known for: mental telepathy. /God damn it, Rukawa Kaede! Wake up! /

As if on cue, our dear hero woke up. He looked around. Weirdly, no one was there. He was about to go back to his dear slumber when he heard knocks behind him. He turned around, just to see an all wet Fujima Kenji.

/Kenji? /

/Yes it's me, are you blind? Will you please open the door because someone might actually think that I'm a thief! /

/But... I can't.../

/Because you're so sleepy, ne? Or maybe because Sendoh held you as a prisoner in there. I know that Sendoh is staying in there, don't ask me how, but what in the many districts of Kanagawa and the big number of half bloods here in Shohoku is he doing in your room?/

/Ah... You see, I got a sprain yesterday. /

/A what? /

/A sprain. /

/I know, I heard you, but you have a sprain? You've got to be kidding! /

/No. I'm not kidding. That's why I didn't attend the ceremony last night. That also explains why Akira is here in my room, you pervert. /

/OK! Fine! But will you please open the door now because I might get pneumonia! /

Kaede shrugged. He stretched a while, and nudged Akira. He hated to do this, but he's very well sure that Akira can understand. Akira is a light sleeper, so he woke up almost immediately.

"You need anything, Rukawa-kun?" He asked. He smiled at the boy on the bed. "I think someone's on the door." He said, although you know that he's pretty sure about it. Akira nodded as he went downstairs, stretching.

And boy was he surprised to see a fuming, wet Fujima Kenji on the doorsteps.

"Ah, Good morning, Fujima-san." He greeted, trying to be oblivious to the fact that Fujima is all wet and real angry. Fujima reflected a short greeting and rushed upstairs, to Rukawa's bedroom.

Akira just stared at Fujima; he seems to know the house well. He shrugged, plopping down on one of the couches in the living room. That talk must be very important that Fujima will risk his health outside just to talk to Rukawa. Oh, well, whatever might that be, it's none of his business.

0o0o0o0

Kaede sighed. Mist formed above his mouth. What a long week this will be. He can not walk anywhere without anyone accompanying him, no roaming around, he can not use his bike, and the worst thing is... NO BASKETBALL.

He sighed again, making more mist. Such boredom, which is what it is called. Damn.

He was surprised when he heard his bedroom door opening. There stood a very wet Fujima. "There are towels and a t-shirt on my cabinet." He said, straightening himself. Kenji nodded as he got a plain white t-shirt and stripped off his wet shirt.

"What brought you here?" He can not help but ask the other boy. Fujima, who was still drying his hair with a towel, replied. "Your dad is mad as hell yesterday. Or maybe this morning. Hell, you should have seen his face!" Fujima said at the confused Kaede.

"He's mad?" He asked, wondering at why on Earth his father will be angry. It's just the first time he did not attend the meeting all his life! Can't he just let it pass away? Fujima stared at the boy who was looking very confused.

"It's true. I don't know why, but it seems like that father of yours is fuming about Christians and rebellions."

The phrase did not register in his mind, only the word /Christian/ did. In that case, then maybe his father is indeed that fox who appeared mysteriously in front of him the other day. He bit his lower lip.

"Oh, well, you better recover soon. That way, maybe you can attend the meetings sooner. Don't worry, I promise I'll tell your father sooner or later." Fujima said. With that he went out of the bedroom. Kaede was about to sleep when he heard another opening of the door. "By the way, Rukawa- kun, can I get some snacks downstairs?" He asked. Kaede nodded, and went back to sleep.

0o0o0o0o0

Akira watched the mist forming under his breath. He sighed for the umpteenth time. "Geez, Fujima-san, I never knew that you eat so much." He said, pulling on a joke. Fujima smiled. "Hmp, that's what you get for letting me wait for a long time outside." He said as he got another cracker. The cracker wasn't given a chance to pray for his dear life because the blue-eyed goblin already ate him.

Akira watched Kenji as he put the cracker in his mouth. Suddenly, he remembered something he was asking himself a while ago. "You seem to know this place very well, ne? Do you go here often?" Kenji paled. OK. So, he was not expecting that question at all. He never knew that Akira will notice that anyway.

"Yes, as you had expected, I often go here. My house is just three houses away. You know that green house. You can go there if you want to." Kenji said as he smiled at Akira.

Akira raised a brow. And he thought that Fujima lives in Shoyo, and not Shohoku. "But who owns that house, near the pond?" Akira asked another question. He knows that Fujima's house is right beside the pond, they use to walk Fujima home.

/Shit! Kaede! God damn it, wake up! /

/What again?!/

/What do I tell him? /

/?/

/He's asking why we have a house here, and what the house near the lake is! /

/Do'aho. Tell him that the house in the lake is also your house, your father's house to be exact, while the green house is where your mother lives. If he asks you about where you really stay, tell him that you live in one house for a week and at the other for the next week. /

/That was long. /

/Do'aho/

/You should talk that way more often, Kaede. /

/.../

"HELLO! Earth to Fujima Kenji? Are you still alive?" Akira asked, waving his sandwich in front of Kenji. Kenji glared at the boy in front of him, taking the sandwich away. "That house is my mom's. The house that you guys walked me home is my dad's. You see, my parents are separated. I stay with my mom for a week and my dad for the other... so I stay in three houses. The other is the Shoyo's dorm, which I stay at for winter. So do not be so suspicious."

"I'm not suspicious!" Akira answered defensively. Kenji waved at his hands, disregarding what the other said. He got up, remembering what he promised Kaede. "Ja, Akira, I need to do something."

Akira stared at the disappearing figure. Then, he remembered that he should be doing something important as well. He shrugged, and got up, only to be followed by a small blot of black. He stopped, and picked up the little kitten. "Fuyu, they say that a black cat is bad luck. On one side, it's true. But on the brighter side, you're so lucky."

If only Akira could understand a cat's facial expression, he could've seen that Fuyu raised his brows.

0o0o0o0o0

"Rukawa-kun! Could you please hold still! God knows how hard this is!"

"Whoever told you that you need to do that, Sendoh? Just... Stop it!"

"That was thirteen words, longer than the usual."

"Shut up."

"Ouch! Don't kick me!"

:-) OK, me and my green thoughts. If ever you also are green minded, stop it now, because I already told you that this is not lemon. Poor Sendoh here was just bandaging Rukawa's foot, because it got wet. Do you want full details? Huh? Fine.

0o0o0o0

Rukawa is bored. Rukawa is very bored. Rukawa is very, very bored. Stop this bullshit now, you stupid authoress, or I'm going to kill you. Fine.

To cut it short, he is bored. Staying at bed, what he thought was good, is definitely BO-RING! So what could a sprained person do? Walking would be
the obvious answer, but he does not want to risk in with the pain.

As if wanting to get him jealous, Fuyu walked across the room, hopping all the way. (Go figure out how.) He sped across the room, somersaulting and
all. As I said, go figure out how.

Kaede glared at the kitten, which, after running around and rolling Kaede's basketball around, had something like a malicious smile in his pussy face
features.

He sat up, all the while glaring at the black cat that still had that "stupid malicious smile", as quoted. Kaede inhaled deeply, and placed the uninjured foot on the floor. He placed the injured foot a few inches beside
it.

Slowly, he stood up, placing his weight on his left, uninjured foot. He gripped at the near desk for support, in case it might hurt like hell just
like how it was in his first year in Tomigaoka [1].

However, things had changed. When he placed part of his weight on the
right, injured foot, there was pain, but not as painful as how it was
before. He almost raised a brow in surprise.

Glad with what happened, he walked downstairs, limping. I didn't say that
there was no pain at all, right?

He went his way to the kitchen, feeling a sudden hunger. Imagine his
surprise when he saw Akira, blindfolded, holding a pitcher of water.

/OK, what the hell's on Akira's mind again? / Rukawa thought to himself, somewhat wishing that a telepathic person might hear the question thrown to
the air. Unfortunately, there was no telepathic person very near him in
order for him to hear the question.

Then, Rukawa noticed something. Akira's hair was not at its usual style. It
was hanging limply at Akira's forehead.

Kaede grabbed this opportunity, Akira blindfolded, to stare at the angelic
face for a while.

Kaede was too mesmerized by staring at the angelic face to notice that this stupid, eternally smiling, angelic faced porcupine was heading towards him.
Tripping towards him might be the better word.

Kaede was able to side step, but that didn't save his bandaged foot from
getting wet of err...lemon juice.

0o0o0o0

"I swear, Akira, if you don't get finished with this at a minute, I'll kill you."

"You should be pleased, Kaede, that I am doing this for you."

"I am not pleased after you spilled that liquid over my foot."

"Do you really think that I didn't get wet with my own juice?"

So, I think that you already know what happened to our two dear heroes.

After the nerve-wrecking fight of the two, they are finally ready to go to the hospital for a check-up.

0o0o0o0

The hospital room was cold. The air conditioner was set for ten degrees Celsius, and it was raining cats and dogs outside. Kaede had his chin on his left hand, and had a little pout in his little lips, which made Akira think that he is cute. Akira was sitting next to Kaede, grinning like a green-minded maniac that he is.

Soon enough, a doctor went in.

Kaede turned to the direction of the opening door, just to see a man in his early forty's wearing what a doctor usually wears. His hair was dark brown, and he looks just like Fujima. Kaede blinked twice and squinted hard to see if what he was thinking is true.

Boy was he right. He saw this person on Kenji's room. He was there in the photo frame, carrying a nine-year-old Kenji and beside him was a twenty- nine-year old woman. This person is Kenji's father, Fujima Hiro, a member of the cult.

Kaede stared at the man, who was talking with Akira, but once in a while would glance at him meaningfully, as if wanting to tell him something. Hiro was just like everyone in the cult: good looking, poised, intelligent, and has a mysterious aura. He has the almost translucent, pale skin and the glassy blue eyes: the trademarks of the cult members.

Suddenly, a voice sort of whispered to him.

/Are you already telepathic? /

Kaede instantly knew who that was. /Yes. /

/I'm wondering how the hell you, the son of the leader, got a sprain. /

/It was an accident. /

/Then, may I... /

The next thing Kaede knew, the doctor was in front of him, examining the sprained foot. The man glanced at him, and smiled.

/Can I...?/

/Uh... yes/

Kaede did not let Dr. Fujima to finish his sentence. Dr. Fujima thought that Kaede already understood what he meant, so he continued his intentions: namely healing Kaede's foot the cult's way.

Fujima Hiro let out an invisible force that seemed to heal Kaede's sprain. No non-cult member can see it: but nevertheless, some gifted people can feel that there is something going on. Akira is one of those rare people, and he knows that there is something happening that should not be. Hiro then let go of the sprained foot. Kaede sighed with relief as he felt his injury heal. Akira narrowed his eyes. This day is really weird.

"Well, let's see, Rukawa, try to walk with your right foot." Rukawa nodded and stood up, first stepping on with his left foot followed by the right foot. It did not hurt.

'Now there is really something weird. I'm beginning to hate this day. This is really weird.' Akira thought as he bowed to the doctor. "Thank you, Fujima-sensei. How much would it cause?"

"No, don't worry, Sendoh, no cash payments. I did not do anything at all." Fujima said as he smiled at the teenager. 'Liar.' Sendoh thought. Unknown to him, the person beside him can read his thoughts.

And that certain person is getting more and more nervous every moments passing by.

0o0o0o0

Kaede can be very nervous, and now he is very nervous that he can have high blood pressure or heart attack. But that incident is nowhere near. Want to know what happened? Try to prod through Kaede's memory. But in case you can't, it's just like this:

After being stuck under the rain for almost one hour, the two friends had finally gone home, just to see Touya Rukawa home. He is angry: very, very, very, very angry. Akira did not know what it was all about, but Rukawa-san is angry that he talked to his son for about thirty minutes.

Akira does not need to use his keen hearing: they were shouting. On the first three quarters of the fight, the only one shouting was Touya. But after twenty two and a half minutes, Kaede was also shouting. It seems like his new best friend had already been pushed to the edge of his patience.

Akira bit his lower lip. He can not find any reason on why the two of them were fighting: unless it was because of him. Maybe he did abuse their kindness, thinking that he sprained Rukawa and bought him a kitten full of bad luck. He just has to leave. Heart full of guilt, Akira went to the guest room to pack his bags. Maybe he'll just go hide somewhere else.

After the fight with his father, Kaede was surprised to see Akira with his packed bags. His breathing stopped, just like his crushed heart. "Akira? Where are you going?" He asked as he tried to stop himself from boxing his father's face.

"I'm leaving now, Rukawa-kun. Thank you for the free lodging and food." Akira said with a warm smile. He waved and went outside, getting a cab. Kaede stared at the spiky-haired entering the cab. Before the cab went to the direction of the nearest port station, Akira waved goodbye.

Kaede felt his eyes being pricked by a thousand needles. He never felt this before: it was something new to himself. But he did not give a damn: what he wants is to follow that certain person who is planning to go to Okinawa.

Touya stared at his son. He never saw Kaede scream before. But that was not the point: he never saw him CRY before. What the..? Why is his son crying? This is not supposed to be happened: Not history should be repeated! He knows this scene before: it was HIS story. And it was also like this before... him and Sakura...

The next thing he knew, his son was going to the direction of the door. He should protect his only memory of Sakura from the harm of being cursed to death by the cult... He gripped tight on Kaede's wrists. "Where do you think are you going?" Touya asked, his eyes fiery blue. Kaede glared at his father back. "Wherever I'm going, it's none of your business!"

However, Touya is much more powerful than his son. "No! You stay here. Go back to your room, NOW!"

Kaede can feel his father's angry-mometer rise. And he can feel his father controlling him. Even if it is against him, he went to his room.

0o0o0o0

A/N: Yay! I'm happy I finished one chapter! The other chapters of fanfics are coming soon, I am already halfway the chapters of all of my unfinished fics...

[1] I'm just putting this spoiler scene here... Rukawa had a sprain with the game against the alumni players of Tomigaoka when he was still thirteen... I don't know if it did happen, though. As I told you, it's just a made-up scene...