AUTHOR'S NOTE: None as of the moment.
DISCLAIMER: Same old. Same old.
* * * * *
"The affair will be in three days,"
Hanamichi looked up from the book that he was reading and stared at his uncle. He nodded silently and returned his gaze at the book. He tried to continue reading but Hanamichi was already preoccupied by the event.
"Scared?" Henry asked, sitting beside his nephew.
"Not exactly," Hanamichi answered back, not looking up from the book. But Hanamichi was scared for the second time in his entire life (the first one was the day his father died). Three days from now he will be named as duke and life as he knows it will be gone forever. Hanamichi Sakuragi, the 16 years old center of the Shohoku basketball team will cease to exist. Three days from now, he will become Sir Hanamichi, Duke of Lancaster and Edinburgh. I'm not ready, he thought, deeply troubled by the upcoming activity. He slammed the book shut and pinched the bridge of his nose. God, I feel a head ache coming.
Henry felt his nephew tensed. A surge of pity welled up inside of him and patted the broad shoulder beside him. "Don't worry. You're doing the right thing,"
"Am I?" Hanamichi asked, turning his head to look at his uncle. Confusion marred the young man's face.
"I think," Henry said lightly, evidently trying to ease up the tension. He smiled at his nephew consolingly and clapped Hanamichi's shoulder before standing up.
"You think?" Hanamichi said mockingly and promptly rolled his eyes. "That's a big help," he muttered.
Henry pretended that he didn't sense the sarcasm dripping at Hanamichi's reply. He understood what his nephew's feeling. It's not fair to take him away from the life he was used to and then suddenly introduced him to aristocratic life, expecting results right away. He had watched as Hanamichi manfully grappled the preparations and lessons he had to learn to be integrated into royalty. There were good days, but most of the time Hanamichi came up short. That's why Henry convinced his mother to extend the lessons to two months instead of the original two weeks to give Hanamichi more time to prepare. Sophia acceded right away when Hanamichi head butted to oblivion the third tutor during only the first week of "class".
Henry sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm sorry. This must have been a burden for you but I would like you to know that we are proud of what you have become," Hanamichi wasn't replying and Henry knew that this discussion was over long before it started. Hanamichi evidently was still confused on this new role he had to take. Maybe he should really leave his nephew to his thoughts, since it looked like that that what Hanamichi was doing before he tried to strike up a conversation. Henry clapped Hanamichi's shoulder once again and silently walked away.
Hanamichi watched as his uncle walked out of the garden and instantly felt sorry for treating Henry badly. He knew that Henry was just trying to be nice and probably trying to help him be at ease with the big event but Hanamichi was far too troubled to be welcoming. Three days and his life is over. He leaned on the tree and closed his eyes. What did I get myself into? Hanamichi slid down and slumped on the ground. He leaned his head on his hands and to his dismay, felt a throbbing on his temples. Great, migraine he thought sardonically. He tried to ease away the pain by rubbing his temples but the stupid migraine won't disappear. Deeply annoyed, Hanamichi head butted the ground. He didn't know if giving himself a head bump three days prior the event would do him good but atleast for a moment he felt much better. He might be a duke in three days and leave everything behind but atleast, he can still head butt anything he wants. A slow smile of satisfaction crept to his face.
* * * * *
Meanwhile, Kathleen was frantically pacing her room. "Shit, shit, shit!" she mumbled frenetically. Memories of this morning event flooded her mind. She collapsed to a chair and buried her head on her hands. She was exhausted from all that walking, not to mention that her nerves felt limp. Heck, she felt limp! And she couldn't think a goddamn thing without that popping to her mind. "What the heck did just happen!?!"
{
Kathleen was very aware of their position. Hanamichi was half-naked and ON TOP of him. If anyone walks in, he would think that they were doing something bad and immoral this early. But she liked the feeling of his taut skin on her palm and his warm presence above her. It made her feel…safe. And she didn't care if they looked weird or immoral as of this moment because she had never been this close to this young man for the past two months they were together. "That color suits you," Hanamichi said to her almost in a whisper. His words, his voice, it was like nothing she ever heard. It sounded so manly yet so soft and enticing. She tried to meet his gaze but shyness overcame her and she cast down her eyes. It fell on Hanamichi's lips and she felt a thrill coursed through her body.
"I wonder what it's like to kiss him," she thought idly. Kathleen was so lost in this thought that she didn't notice that she was lazily making circles on Hanamichi's arm, unconsciously sending bolts of electricity to the boy on top of him. She felt him tensed above her and she became conscious of what she was doing. She stopped and leveled her gaze with that of Hanamichi. She saw something in those eyes that made the urge to burn even brighter within her. Hanamichi gave her a nervous smile, lowering his face to hers. "I wonder what it's really, really like…" she said to herself half-mindedly, sliding the hand resting on Hanamichi's chest to his nape, bringing his face closer to hers. She could almost feel his breath on her face…
"Hanamichi, Miss Kathleen! Please hurry up! Lady Sophia and Master Henry are already waiting downstairs!"
The rasp knock and the urgent voice sent both teenagers back to the real world. Hanamichi jumped up so quickly that he tangled his foot on the bed sheet and smacked his bottoms down on the floor. Kathleen, on the other hand, sat up and hugged a pillow in front of her as if trying to hide something. Kathleen looked at the door half-expectantly and half-frightened, anticipating James to come bursting in to witness their awkward position. But a few seconds passed and no James entered the room. Kathleen heaved a sigh of relief. She returned her gaze at Hanamichi and felt uncomfortable at once. "Well, I-I-uhm…" Kathleen tried to start a conversation but she was too tongue-tied to form a coherent sentence except for some incoherent babbling that she was on the verge of doing. She glanced at Hanamichi and promptly turned her head to other direction in vain attempt to hide the blush that was starting again.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Hanamichi stood up. The boy was also trying very hard not to glance at her. "I guess, I really have to change,"
Kathleen just nodded.
After a few minutes, Hanamichi and Kathleen went down to the dining room as what they usually do everyday but this time, instead of a blissful air accompanying them to breakfast, an awkward silence hung between them.
}
Kathleen ruffled her hair and stood up from the chair. She looked out of the window and watched as leaves fell from the trees. Autumn had already started and the leaves of various shades of yellow and red blanketed the castle grounds. It gave the place a whimsical appearance straight out fairy tale books her mother used to read to her. In the story, gallant knights fought off dragons and witches to reach their princess and in the end, hero and heroine shared a kiss to seal their deep love for one another.
Kathleen used to dream that a prince would come at her doorstep one day, sweep her off her feet and kiss her just like those princes in the stories. Well, men did arrive at her doorstep but they skipped the second part and proceeded directly to the last number. They just couldn't wait to get on her pants.
And then came Hanamichi.
They were ten when they first met and Hanamichi saved her from those brats just like those princes in fairy tale. He didn't exactly pull the rug under her that time but she kept the memory of a scrawny prince who came out of nowhere to rescue her from danger. Six years passed and her scrawny prince had grown up. And my god, how did he grow up! Kathleen mused impishly, remembering once again the feel of his skin on hers. And for the nth time, she sighed.
Prince and Princess in fairy tales shared a kiss because they love each other. But what happened there in Hanamichi's room that morning was nothing of that sort. They were merely physically drawn to each other. But Kathleen knew that she almost kissed him not only because she was caught in the heat of the moment but also because she really wanted to. How couldn't she?
For the past two months they were together, she came to know Hanamichi better. She saw in him princely qualities that unfortunately not many aristocratic people whom she met possessed. He was jolly, always making her laughed with his antics and stories about gorillas and foxes and other odd sorts of animals, which, Hanamichi said, irritated him greatly when he was still in Japan. But Kathleen could see that though he spoke of these animals with great annoyance sometimes, his eyes would soften always and his face would take a wistful look.
Hanamichi would also loudly complained about the boring lessons he had to take every day for the past two months in preparation for his integration into royalty. He would swear, head butt his tutor, engage in a shouting match with Lady Sophia if the lady saw something that didn't please her (the activity, which the venerable lady confided to Kathleen she rather enjoyed tremendously because she could see that her grandson inherited her strong-headedness which should "serve Hanamichi well in the future"), and more than once declared that he's "sick and tired of these crap" and they should find a replacement for him because "he's going back to Japan that instant". But of course, he never did come back but stay and bravely battled the "crap", as he liked to call the lessons. After a rough start (which included all of the four conditions above and then some) during the first week of lessons, he sailed off smoothly with her, Lady Sophia's and Henry's help.
Hanamichi might not notice it but enduring the lessons sweetened his temper. He became patient and started listening to authorities. The gruff voice gave way to a more quiet tone. Though still boisterous at times, he had learned to separate work from play. His volatile disposition was slowly being replaced by a sober nature, which was charming to behold. It happened more than once that Kathleen was pulled aside by some visiting royal teenage girls, requesting if they could be set up with the dashing duke-to-be (much to her chagrin). But being the hospitable hostess that she was, she helped them. But after an over-eager princess of a small European country jumped on Hanamichi, the poor guy got down on his bended royal knee (literally!) and begged her to stop traumatizing him. Kathleen was just too willing to oblige.
A smile flitted across Kathleen's face as she remembered how they took their daily walk in the palace's orchard. There, Hanamichi showed his softer side to her. He would tell her stories about his father who he loved and respected dearly. There was still pain in his voice whenever he talked about his dad. Kathleen knew that Hanamichi never quite forgiven himself for Lance's death. Hanamichi also liked to talk about his mother and his friends back home in Japan. And to her dismay, he also talked about that Haruko girl. Kathleen wrinkled her nose in disgust (or was it jealousy?).
Kathleen leaned her head on the glass and sighed. Her relationship with Hanamichi was pretty good. Their two months of being together let her to know him better. In fact, she even developed an infatuation over him. Nothing serious, she thought. But now, she wasn't so sure. She felt something even stronger when she looked into his eyes. It's not lust, by gods, she swear it wasn't it! It was…well, it was definitely not infatuation, too. But whatever it was that she felt at that moment, she knew that it made her kissing him seemed so right.
But she was afraid.
Did he feel the same thing? She had no idea. And because she had no idea, it made her fearful for the range of possibilities.
"I've got to stop thinking too much," she muttered. She lifted her head from the glass when something outside caught her eyes. She squinted and tried to clearly see what was it.
It wasn't an it; it was a who. A who who had red hair and was head down into the ground. Her heart gave a sudden thumped. "Oh my god…"
* * * * *
I definitely feel much better… Hanamichi thought with a satisfied smile on his face. He was ready to rise from his position on the ground when he was yanked up and was placed on his back forcefully.
"Oh my god! Are you alright? Are you hurt? Shit! Don't leave me like this!"
Hanamichi looked incredulously at Kathleen's worried face. The girl was on the verge of panic and her hand was wandering to search for any sign of injury. The scene looked so funny but Hanamichi was too stunned to laugh.
"Please, Hanamichi, talk to me. Please!" Kathleen said, her voice already breaking. "God, he's dead. He's de-" Hanamichi thought he heard enough.
"Kathleen!" he said loudly, taking both of her hands in his, "What are you doing?"
Kathleen stopped blabbering at once and looked at him. Her eyes widened at the realization that he's alive. "You're alright! But you're…and I thought that…So you're not…I mean —" Kathleen stammered. Hanamichi found her confusion cute. Some of her hair escaped from the ponytail she's wearing and her cheeks had a pinkish tint due to the little marathon she did to get to him. He knew she was agitated but he thought he could have a little fun with her.
"Yes, I'm alive," he drawled, "But even if I am not, don't you think you shouldn't have turned me over?" He let this fact sank in for a moment. He watched in amusement when the reality hit her and her mouth turned 'O'. "Oh. OH. Right…" she said weakly, her face getting pinker as her cheeks. "I could have really died…" he said, trying to milk her moment of dullness for all its worth.
Kathleen looked at him with an askewed grin on her face. "Ooops?" she said meekly. Hanamichi smirked.
"Well, now that we sort things out…I think I have to go…" Kathleen said, giving him another weak laugh. She removed her hands from her grip and started to stand up.
But Hanamichi had other idea. He pulled her down and she fell on top of him.
"Hey! Hanamichi, wha-"
"Stay."
"I-I don't understand,"
So do I… Hanamichi wanted to say out loud. But he just couldn't bring himself up to admit it.
"Stay." he said more softly. Kathleen looked up at him. "Please…"
She closed her eyes and buried her head on the crook of his neck. Was it possible? Maybe she didn't need to be afraid after all.
Hanamichi, on the other hand, had a thousand thoughts running in his heads. What made him do it? Why did he want her to stay? What was this feeling he thought he only had for Haruko? What about Haruko? Was that one year pining over Haruko worth nothing to him? He felt he was betraying the other girl but…
Hanamichi held the girl tightly. He felt her sighed on his neck. A little sigh filled with many emotions that were also running in his head. A little sigh marred with contentment. Hanamichi closed his eyes also, feeling her heart beat against his body.
Hanamichi never felt guiltier in his entire life.