Chapter Ten

Sakuragi's House

"Wrong Baka-mono!" The deep throated bellow of the former gorilla captain rang throughout the almost empty gymnasium.

Practice had been over for a good twenty minutes. Kyouren's eyes rounded in surprise as she watched her red-haired brother cowering under the hulking figure of Akagi. She never saw anyone able to subdue Sakuragi in the slightest, except the ex-captain, and more gently, his sister, Haruko. Sakuragi and Akagi stood on either side of the line splitting the circle in the middle of the court. Haruko stood off to the side, acting as referee, helping Sakuragi practice jumping for the ball.

During practice Akagi had been watching Sakuragi adamantly, and conversing softly with Ayako and Anzai-Sensei. Kyouren remembered hearing snatches of something about "extra-training". She hadn't been paying attention, because her attention had been absorbed by the snowy-white coach named Anzai-Sensei. She was struck by the round belly and the round chin, the snowy white eyebrows and moustache, the soft, yet sage voice. There was something so familiar, kindly, and delightful about his demeanor, and she realized he looked just like Santa Claus.

When she told him this politely, Ayako scolded her and slapped her lightly with a fan for her impudence. Captain Akagi looked a little taken aback, and Haruko was giggling. Anzai-sensei continued observing her carefully, then his mouth formed a little 'o' that emitted a gentle laugh of "ho ho ho" that rippled his jolly belly.

It was only at the end of practice, when she was helping Haruko pass out bottled water to the sweaty players, that her friend told her Anzai-sensei had requested Akagi train Sakuragi to act as the center, fill Akagi's shoes.

She felt her chest swell with pride, watching as Sakuragi cursed loudly as he missed a jump-ball to the towering Akagi, who slammed it away with a terrific leap.

"Baaka-mono! Time your jumps!" Akagi bellowed, while Haruko readied another basketball.

"Oi... make yourself useful."

Kyouren scowled as she felt a basketball thump lightly against her back and fall to the floor. She turned to glance at Rukawa, practicing at the other side of the court, dribbling meditatively as his eyes leveled lazily with hers. He had stayed behind also– the echoing slams, and swishes, and the squeal of his shoes distantly echoing on the other side of the court. Why he had picked today to stay behind, she had no idea. She knew her preferred the outdoor court, perhaps he felt it was to cold to practice outside.

"Why should I?" She scowled, grabbing the ball and throwing it back at him.

He merely caught it in his other hand, and easily gripped it in one hand. "Because I said so," he stated. He pointed under the basket. "Stand there and pass me the ball."

"I'd much rather stand here," She replied with a mocking smile.

He shrugged at her before turning, releasing a jump-shot that thumped against the backboard. "Fine. You can walk home."

Kyouren immediately glanced towards the open gym doors, the sky was a gun-metal grey. It looked like it would rain at any second. She knew there was a catch, when he had given her a ride this morning. You blackmailing fox..

Grumbling profusely she stomped her way under the basket, picking up the basketball and hurling it with all her might at Rukawa. His hand gripped it with an ease that infuriated her. Without giving her a second glance, his right hand dribbled the basketball gracefully between his legs, before he shot off to execute a high flying lay-up with a roll of his long fingers. He jogged back down court, and she heaved the ball at him. This time, he relaxed his knees and bent his body to execute a three-pointer. Her lips betrayed her thoughts, murmuring as she furiously willed miss. Miss. Miss. Miss.

"Miss."

SWISH!

Rukawa glanced at her curiously as he lowered his arm. "What did you say do'ahou?"

"Oi kitsune who are you calling do'ahou?" Sakuragi bellowed, his ears perking up at the familiar insult.

Akagi slammed his fist into Sakuragi's red head with a satisfying thump. "Pay attention!"

Kyouren shook her head, bounce passing the ball back to Rukawa, and focusing on Sakuragi's practice. The pair were under the hoop now, with Sakuragi trying to block Akagi's shots without fouling. Haruko's whistle blew shrilly and echoed in the gym. Akagi was a monster on the court, under the basket, jumping for the ball, and screening for rebounds. The whistle blew again and again, and each time Kyouren felt her attention tuning in across the court. The ball fell on her head sending stars swimming in her vision, when she unknowingly stepped under the net, engrossed in the game across court. Kicking the ball towards Rukawa , her eyes were glued to the other pair across the court.

Rukawa gave up on the distracted girl, wiped his forehead on his shirt collar, and resumed practicing on his own.

"Baka! A center rules under the basket! Block, rebound, score here!" Akagi bellowed, his thick arms stretched out. Sakuragi struggled relentlessly, moving his frame against the taller man from side to side, sweat pouring down his forehead.

"Kuso.." Sakuragi cursed under his breath. Shoes squealing against the floor he gripped the ball between his hands.With a sudden leap he was in the air, his fingers rolling forward to lay in the ball, but Akagi was also there. As the large man's hand reached to block Sakuragi felt a fierce possessiveness come over him, and with both hands tried for a dunk.

Kyouren's eyes widened with shock as she stood, the loud smacking sound echoing, as Akagi's hand slammed down the ball and its occupant. She felt her feet pounding across the gym floor even as the red-haired giant was falling from a great height. Akagi's eyes were wide in shock, and with a horrible thud Sakuragi fell on his back, the ball rolling away from his outstretched fingers.

"Sakuragi-kun!" Kyouren was barely aware that she was yelling as she ran forward. Haruko and Akagi were already kneeling.

"Sakuragi, daijobu?" Akagi asked, concern furrowing his eyebrows. The red haired man got up slowly, a strange smile on his face.

"You're still a gorilla, gori," He smirked, sitting up.

"Sakuragi-kun your back.." Haruko started, her words trailing off in question.

"Daijobu Haruko-san," he replied, but as he stood he suddenly flinched, his face contorted in pain.

Akagi was shaking his head in remorse, looking more terrified then anyone had ever seen him. He took Sakuragi's arm, placing it around his neck. "We need to go to a hospital."

"I'm fine," Sakuragi protested, leaning his weight on his ex-captain. "I just need an icy-hot."

"The medicine kit is in the office– its locked up." Haruko started.

"Sakuragi– you need a hospital." Kyouren stammered, feeling the blood drain out of her face.

"NO I don't," Sakuragi yelled, struggling to stand straight. "I'm tensai," he grumbled.

Damn you, you stubborn monkey. Kyouren seethed, the blood pounding in her temples. What if he was seriously hurt ? What if he couldn't play basketball anymore? He'd be devastated.. She had almost forgotten about Rukawa, until he stepped towards Sakuragi, and lifted the tensai's arm around his shoulders.

Rukawa calmly adjusted his posture so Sakuragi could lean on him comfortably, the expression on his face collected as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

"Where do you live?" He asked.

Sakuragi curled his lip into a scowl, but was secretly relieved someone wasn't fussing over him. He was sure he was okay. It was nothing like the pain he felt when he had first injured his back. The way Akagi was sweating and looking guilty, Haruko's panicked eyes, and Kyouren face, as white as a sheet was bugging him. Kyouren looked the most frightened out of all of them, which surprised him. She's more jittery than she looks. "Four blocks down.." he replied.

"Right.. Lets get you home," Akagi murmured, looking from Rukawa to Sakuragi in mild shock.

It was pouring outside, and no one had an umbrella. Sakuragi squirmed unhappily when Haruko and Kyouren insisted on accompanying him home. The skies were dark with clouds, and the rain blew in sideways. Akagi, Sakuragi, and Rukawa walked ahead, while Haruko and Kyouren quietly walked behind them after locking up the gym. Kyouren had forgotten that Sakuragi's house was her father's house. So after quietly brooding with worry, when Sakuragi announced his home, she looked up to see a old fashioned Japanese corner house.

"Kyo-chan.. The keys are in my bag," Sakuragi spoke through slightly raspy breath.

"H-h-ai.." She stammered, digging through the gym bag she was holding, and after removing gum wrappers, dirty socks, a half-eaten candy bar, and a suspicious looking magazine, which Sakuragi hastily grabbed and slipped under his jacket, she found the keys. With the strangest feeling she opened the door, pulling it back to let Akagi, Sakuragi, and Rukawa enter first. Then, with a feeling of apprehension she stepped inside the dark hallway.

The house smelled stale like dust, and there was an barren chill. It was pitch dark, all the curtains were closed. They all stood there blinking in the darkness, adjusting their eyes until Sakuragi grunted, "There's a light switch by the door." When the light flickered on, the mess came into full view.

Cartons of cup of noodles, plastic utensils, dirty clothing, crumpled paper, lay scattered on the floor. Picture frames and wooden ornaments were covered with dust. It was a old fashioned Japanese house, free of furniture and covered with worn linoleum over concrete. When all heads turned to stare at Sakuragi, he turned visibly red. "Er.. Didn't clean this week," He muttered.

In a strange reversal of circumstances, no one could speak but Rukawa. "You're heavy do'ahou. Where's your room?"

"Uh.. Just in there," Sakuragi nodded ,towards the main room. A rumpled futon lay in a corner, next to a small tv set.

Akagi and Rukawa helped him down on the futon, rolling back the blankets and helping him with his wet clothing. Akagi gently flipped the large man over, pulling back the sweaty t-shirt to reveal his muscular back. "Where's that icy-hot?" Akagi asked.

"In the bedroom upstairs, in the third drawer," Sakuragi spoke muffled against his pillow.

Silently Rukawa stood to fetch the item. Sakuragi looked apologetically at them. "Haruko-san, there's a boiler switch by the door, it'll heat up the floor. Kyo-san, help yourselves to some tea or something, you're all soaked."

It was true, Akagi kneeling down by Sakuragi was dripping rainwater on the floor. Haruko and Kyouren had damp hair.

Haruko moved to turn on the surface boiler and Kyouren made her way to the kitchen.

It smelled like sour food. The sink was filled up with dirty dishes, and she couldn't find a single clean mug or any dried leaves or tea bags to make tea with. All she found was a rusty kettle, which she filled with water and put on the gas stove. She could hear the murmur of voices in the larger room, but she stood there for a few minutes. Her eyes suddenly welled up with tears as the spout of the kettle blew steam. The rain dripping from her hair intermingled with the slow tear drops that slid down her cheeks, as a dull pain tightened in her chest.

"Anou.. Kyo-chan," Haruko called timidly, watching in wonder as her friend stood over the boiling kettle. She watched with confusion, as Kyouren hastily wiped something off her face. "Sakuragi-kun was asking about the tea..."

Kyouren choked out a forced laugh, facing Haruko with a smile that didn't touch her eyes. "I can't find any cups Haruko-chan," she murmured, as her friend giggled. The two girls managed to open every cupboard, and found a stack of styrofoam cups which they filled up with the hot water, and took back to the main room.

Sakuragi was still lying on his stomach, with the icy-hot stuck against the middle of his back. Akagi was sitting next to him, his large hand smoothing the sticky bandage. Rukawa loomed near the door, the shadows silhouetting his form. Kyouren and Haruko passed out the steaming cups, which everyone held in their hands, but didn't drink. It was strangely quiet, and when Kyouren absentmindedly put her cup to her lips, the water tasted like rust from the kettle. She gritted her teeth, willing herself to be cheerful.

"Sakuragi-kun, you live in a stye," she scolded, trying to smile.

"Ha.. Tensai's don't have time to clean." he grinned sheepishly, turning his head to beam at her.

"What about your par–" Haruko started, but was interrupted by a piercing look from Kyouren. Haruko's eyes widened in shock at the murderous look her friend was giving her, and she took a sip of her cup, burning her lip.

"Uhm.. Wow you've got a lot of these things.. What's this?" Kyouren randomly picked up a wooden plaque.

"That's my mom," Sakuragi said quietly.

Kyouren looked down, the blood leaving her face, as she realized her plaque was really a picture frame. Her fingers traced the dust, to reveal very familiar face. Their mother. It was a picture she had never seen before, a younger version of Hayashi Michiko wearing a school uniform.

"She's pretty," Haruko breathed, taking the picture gently out of Kyouren's limps hands to observe. Then cautiously, she looked at Hanamichi, wondering if she should ask. "Where is she?"

"She died when I was born," Sakuragi muttered, his cheeks flushing pink.

"I'm sorry.." Haruko whispered, her eyes peering at the smiling face. For some reason it was a very familiar face. Where had she seen it before? She looked up to ask Kyouren, but her voice caught in her throat. The girl was glaring at her with a suspicious gleam in her eyes. Tears?

"I'm going to get some more tea, who wants some?" Kyouren asked, standing suddenly. When Captain Akagi and Haruko politely refused, she fled to the kitchen bumping into a stand in the hallway, and upsetting something. She picked it up hastily, and the glass reflected in the light. It was a picture of a middle aged man with determined eyes, and grimly set, thin-lips. His eyes were just like Sakuragi's. It was a funerary picture, with black slashes decorating the corners. It was her father.

She felt the sudden urge to flee this place, which felt frighteningly foreign and familiar at the same time. Old photographs stood on every visible surface, and the dust, the trash, the sour smells of rotting food made her dizzy with the guilt and pain clenching in her chest.

"You want to leave?"

Rukawa was standing by the doorway, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. The dim lighting reflected in his blue eyes, and there was a foreign expression on his face, something that looked almost like pity.

"Please," She whispered, and she felt her teeth chatter; her blouse clung to her shoulders, her bare legs were cold, and her scalp felt icy. She felt Rukawa's hand close around her wrist. The door swung open to the pattering of thick raindrops and the chill of the wind in the slate grey sky. To her it was welcoming.

"Did I hear the door?" Sakuragi asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

Akagi looked up from his seat, to see the door thud shut. "I think Rukawa left.." He muttered, gripping the tiny cup in his big hands.

"Kyouren-chan too," Haruko added, frowning slightly. It wasn't like her friend to leave without saying a word. As for Rukawa, well, that was his nature.

"You two should get going too," he muttered apologetically. "I'm fine.. It's feeling better already, see?" To express his sentiment, Sakuragi flipped over on his back.

"You sure?" Akagi asked, still concerned for his junior.

Sakuragi closed his eyes, pretending to yawn. "Yea.. You're disturbing my rest gori. Go home, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Hai.. Listen, if you're not feeling well by tomorrow–"

"I know I know.. I'll visit the doctor," Sakuragi grumbled, stretching his arms out to shoo away his guests. "Now take the umbrellas in the closet by the door, and go home."

"Sakuragi-kun, please call us if you're not feeling well," Haruko spoke gently, leaning down to write her number on a piece of paper by his futon.

Sakuragi secretly burned with pleasure, but he feigned sleep so the pair could leave. He heard the thump of the door and the rustle of umbrellas opening. The pain in his back had lessened considerably. The boiler was heating up the floor and seeping into the futon, and comfortably, he fell asleep.

Kyouren didn't flinch as the fat raindrops spattered against her face and soaked into her clothes. She couldn't feel her legs though she was moving, dragged as a fast pace by Rukawa, who's hand was still closed over her wrist. Her teeth rattled painfully in her mouth, and her mind was burning with questions. "She died when I was young." Sakuragi had a picture of their mother in his house. More importantly, he thought she died a long time ago. Does he know about me? She wondered, but bitterly, she knew that was impossible.

They had come to a halt at the familiar bike stall. The rain made pinging noises bouncing against the iron stands, and Rukawa fiddled with the bike chain. She noticed with surprise as he took off his jacket, and folded it against the metal seat. She sat at it gratefully, cushioned against the chill of the metal. As he took off, she clung to his back, shivering, cold, and miserable. The wind whipped icily around them, and she felt the wet strands of her hair stick to her face.

"Hey.." she called out weakly.

Rukawa's back shifted in response.

"I want to go home."

He didn't answer, but she felt him pedaling faster against the wind.

Haruko wrung out the wetness in her hair with a soft cotton towel. Her brother was in the hallway, making a phone call to Captain Miyagi and Anzai-Sensei, informing them about Sakuragi's injury. His guilt hadn't subsided, on the entire way home, her brother kept turning back and muttering to himself.

She changed into her dry sweats and a loose t-shirt, wondering vaguely if Sakuragi would be alright. She knew he would, he was her tensai basketball player. She smiled, imagining tomorrow how he would race down the court, laughing all over again and proclaiming himself a genius who recovered quickly.

But there was something else to think about. Though it seemed trivial, something about that picture– the one of Sakuragi-kun's mother was bothering her. She felt like she had seen the picture before, which was odd, but something stranger was, that she had seen that person in the flesh, though she couldn't for the life of her figure out who and when. It was impossible, seeing as Sakuragi's mother passed away years ago, and her parents had never known the Sakuragi's.

It was sad how Sakuragi lived. Haruko hadn't known he was an orphan– until she saw the funerary picture of his father, and when he told her that his mother had died. It was amazing how upbeat and confident he was for a person with such a sad family history.

"Haruko?"

Haruko looked up to see her brother standing by the doorway, still dripping wet from the rain. "Oni-chan, you'll catch your death in those clothes," she cried in dismay.

Akagi grunted, wiping the rain off his brow. "I'm gonna take a shower, did you want to go in first?"

Haruko shook her head, warmed by her brothers thoughtfulness. It was such a nice thing to have an older brother. She stretched herself down on her pillow, laying her head on the plush softness. Her eyes drooped softly as she listened to the pitter-patter of raindrops against her window.

Her eyes snapped open with a sudden thought.

"Itou Kyouren!" She cried out.

It was Kyouren who looked like the woman in that picture. It was also at Kyouren's house that she'd seen Sakuragi's mother. On a silver picture frame, a middle aged woman, her arms closed around her daughter.

She remembered how she had studied it that morning as it sat on Kyouren's nightstand. She had thought it remarkable how Kyouren looked so much like her mother. But if this was true.. It meant..

Masaka.. She and Sakuragi-kun are siblings?

"No.. I'm imagining things. Sakuragi's mother died.."

Six AM that morning Nitta-san hovered worriedly from room to room over her two charges. They had shown up late that night, soaked to the bone. Kyouren had hardly touched her dinner last night despite her normally healthy appetite, and in the morning she found the girl feverishly sick. A trip to Rukawa-kun's room announced the same symptoms– to two had caught a bad cold.

"No wonder.. Running around in the rain with no umbrella," she clucked, balancing two basins of hot water in each hand. Going to school was out of the question, so the good housekeeper moved back and forth, bathing their feverish brows. When they woke she forced soup down their throats and drugged them with a strong cold medicine. By ten'o'clock their fevers were considerably reduced, and they were sleeping peacefully.

Tired from her ministrations, Mrs. Nitta retreated her to her room to take a well deserved nap.

Kyouren opened her eyes at noon, feeling a dull throbbing in her temples. She vaguely remembered the night. Nitta-san scolding her and rubbing her down with a hot towel. Rukawa markedly looking away from her at dinner. How food tasted dry and stale in her mouth. How her dreams had been plagued by that dark, dismal house that smelled of sour food and the haunting pictures of her dead parents..

She shook the thoughts away, her eyes snapping to her clock. She had missed school. Her headache intensified as she realized how much work she would have to make up for this.

"Nitta-san.." She called, finding her voice to be a dry, hoarse croak. A basin of water was on her night stand, and a tower slid down her forehead as she sat up in bed. Her entire body was sore from fever, but the distant rumble of her stomach announced she was hungry.

Standing unsteadily on her feet, she padded downstairs. She could already hear Nitta-san snoring, and faintly, the sound of the tv humming. Had she fallen asleep on the couch? Her eyes widened when she discovered Rukawa sitting, wrapped in blankets in front of the TV. He was fast asleep, one of Kano's games blaring with the voice of an American announcer. He looked paler than usual, and she remembered he would have been just as soaked as she was, if not more.

As she walked to the kitchen she remembered how he had shielded her from most of the rain on their ride home. How helpful he had been. She wondered vaguely if she could have got back on her own. Never in her life had she imagined she'd feel gratitude towards the kitsune.

She took her soup to the sofa, her eyes traveled across the relaxed features of Rukawa's face. In sleep he looked so different– unguarded and vulnerable. Two words that seemed ludicrous to associate with Rukawa Kaede. But as her memory revisited the events of yesterday, she remembered seeing something akin to kindness in his eyes.

His nose suddenly twitched, and she hurriedly looked away. She buried herself in her soup, and she knew he was awake by the sound of his breathing. A tense silence followed, and Kyouren only slurped her soup, which burned the fuzziness in her throat.

"Hn," he grunted, announcing his wakefulness.

"Hi," She croaked. "How do you feel?"

"Fine," He replied. There was a slight pause, and she felt his eyes on her. "You?"

"I don't know," She answered truthfully. "I think I'm getting better."

"Hmm.." He grunted softly, turning away. "Is that soup?" He asked after a pause, his voice sounding scratchy.

"Yea. Want some?" she offered, glad to change the subject.

"No I'll get it." He stood and returned with a bowl, but no spoon. He got back up to get a spoon then sat down again. The silence dragged on, and desperate to fill it they both spoke at once.

"I–"

"Are you–"

They glanced at each other briefly, Rukawa nodding for her to speak first. "I– I just wanted to thank you. For.. You know," she trailed off, looking down at the empty soup bowl clutched in her hands.

"Hn," he muttered in reply.

"If there's anything you want to ask.." Kyouren trailed off feebly, feeling she owed him at least that.

Rukawa paused, his eyes tracing her face and she knew he was thinking to himself. His mouth opened slowly, characteristic of someone wanting to ask an uncomfortable question. "..That woman.."

"Yes," Kyouren answered, without waiting for the rest. "She's our mother."

"Oh."

That one revelation felt like a trickle escaping the dam she had built around her feelings, and everything else was collapsing rapidly. Flinging away secrecy she let her mind unbolt and speak her thoughts out loud. "What does that mean." she murmured, holding her head in her hands. "Hanamichi thinks our mother died when he was born.. Why?"

Rukawa's eyes were closed in his seat, and his head was leaned back against the sofa cushion. He looked like he was about to fall asleep.

"Rukawa.." Kyouren waited for him to acknowledge that she was addressing him. When he didn't budge, she sighed, rushing on anyway. It was something she had to ask. "If.. If you were Hanamichi.. Would you want to know the truth?" She half expected no answer since his eyes were closed.

"I'm not sure," was his reply.

With the soup warm in her belly, and weary from her thoughts, Kyouren drifted off to a dreamless sleep.

When Nitta-san got up from her nap, she found her two patients fast asleep on the sofa, Kyouren's head rested gently against Rukawa's broad shoulder. Smiling to herself, Mrs. Nitta whisked away the soup bowls and made preparations for the nights dinner.