The Boy is Mine

Disclaimer: I don't own SD boys, Inoue does. The events that follow are not included in the original plot but enjoy anyway.

A/N: reviews for the previous chapter were very much appreciated. I dedicate this to ivybluesummers who hasn't been writing at all for the last few months and whose works I miss so much. Upload new fics, okay? Same goes to the MitRu fans who reviewed. Yes, I mean YOU. Hahaha.

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Chapter III

He was halfway at it before he knew it even started. Just like that, he bid him entrance to his heart. He didn't know that he was falling dramatically in love, with Mitsui Hisashi that is. Half the time he was unconscious, daydreaming, as love and passion arrested him.

You stay away from him. Rukawa's tone, dripping with authority, bounced to the right wall of his skull, then to the left, down, up and repeat. It wouldn't stop echoing, it seemed; and the longer it persisted, the louder it got. He must be losing his mind. Only it wouldn't lose Mitsui! And that was the biggest bitch of all. He couldn't remember the last time he had so unintentionally offered his attention to anybody. Damn, he hadn't even offered half as much to his math teacher's lectures when the latter threatened to fail him in two terms. He wasn't sure what was wrong with him, exactly. It was either he was insane or Mitsui was an addictive drug or, god forbid, both. At any rate, measures should be taken, if at all it could be helped.

Sendoh Akira was quite a good boy. He was perfect in many ways but would much rather be treated with equal regard as any other. On a given day he could be seen unalterably seeking diversion by the bay side, fishing. On another, he was leisurely directing Ryonan High's daily practice routine. Whichever, he did both with unflagging spirit and good humor.

Today, though, was a considerably noticeable break from either habit. The time was marked at 4:30 in the afternoon, and Sendoh Akira was striding across T Street, apparently with an intention to enter Colonel's Diner and perhaps, to linger there longer than necessary. Inside was a busy clamor of dishes, kitchen utensils and continuous prattle. The air-conditioner was switched on, but it didn't give the desired effect of a cool atmosphere; the whole place couldn't otherwise be described as steamy and at most, bearable. And to think that winter season had long since settled in like a plague. Since it was a weekend---Saturday to be exact---people, young and of age alike, were very much entitled to dabble around as long as they chose to. As a result, Colonel's Diner remained packed with bodies and the nuisance they provided. Sendoh frowned, seeing that it was nearly impossible to get a vacant seat. He stood by the entrance for some time, patiently waiting for a customer or two to leave. At long last, a queue of girls stretched up and headed to the exit. Quickening his pace, Sendoh secured the seat they left. He would be peacefully occupying it for the next thirty minutes.

--

Meanwhile, in other parts of Kanagawa, Sakuragi Hanamichi barged out of Pachinko's. Clearly in distress, he counted the meager amount of coins that scattered on his palm. He could be seen scratching his head, cursing, frowning and cursing again. Anyone who paid any attention to him wouldn't mistake him for a successful gambler. He cupped the coins tightly and shoved them back inside his pocket. He was on the verge of accepting his defeat for the day when he looked around him and his eyes fell on someone he hadn't seen in weeks.

'Hey, Megan-kun!'

Across the road was his old teammate Kogure Kiminobu. He had just then recently emerged from a bookstore whence he purchased a textbook on Math Statistics. He was wearing a cashmere top and a pair of scrupulously ironed brown slacks. Sakuragi couldn't help noticing, unobservant as he was, that Kogure had seriously taken it upon himself to look like a full-blown university student. And to no surprise, succeeded in doing it.

'Sakuragi?' Kogure uttered in slight surprise. His expression was mingled with joy and doubt. He strode forward the red-head who had now relinquished any idea of returning inside. Thanks to Kogure's good emanation.

'Oh, accurate recognition. Thought all that college stuff preparation made your memories go away like puff already. I wouldn't be shocked if you called me Madonna.'

'Sakuragi, what are you saying?'

'I'm saying that you're no longer dropping by at practice sessions as often as you senior guys promised. You haven't even watched a single Shohoku game since you left the team.'

'Akagi has been busy lately.'

'Busy peeling and eating bananas?'

'Studying for the final tests.' Kogure smiled. 'I'm sorry we don't have much time. Senior year is a little harder than we thought. Especially for Akagi.'

'Thought so. He must be feeling super lousy himself.' Sakuragi harrumphed.

'What are you doing here?'

'More like, "what was I doing here". Sucking at pinball. Just lost badly.'

'Yeah, likely story. Don't they even ask for your ID? You shouldn't be allowed inside, should you?'

'I have this.' For a split second Sakuragi fished out a spurious ID from his wallet and soon as he did so, pushed it back to its former hiding place. A grin of unmistakable pride hung on his face.

'Oh,' Kogure gave him a disapproving glance and choosing to ignore the matter, continued, 'Anyway, how's everyone doing?'

'Mmmh…Have you time to spare, Megane? Because it's a long-winded tale you're asking me to spin. I suggest we dine at Colonel's while I share the details with you.'

'Oh yes. I've been planning to visit the place for some time now. Let's go.'

They traipsed away, chatting animatedly about Shohoku's particular team members. The snow, immaculately white, was thick under their soles.

--

Rukawa Kaede had just scooped up the snow that piled up in their front yard when he decided to go on foot. The pathway leading to the gate was still haphazardly filled with a few patches of snow; had Rukawa shoveled them with his eyes open, the outcome would've been more pleasing to the eye. Further on outside, he could easily see the predominance of autumn, his favorite season. Because sleep never felt so good when it was autumn. But unlike the previous passing of winter, this one rather demanded Rukawa to be alert. Mitsui's invitation was still fresh in his mind; Rukawa could still remember his line verbatim: 'Rukawa, if you have time, come and see me at Colonel's. I happen to work there.' Rukawa didn't bother analyzing whether it was just Mitsui's way of endorsing Colonel's or his way of asking Rukawa out on a date; for all Rukawa knew, he had to use all in his power to find quality time with Mitsui. And also, to even the scores with Sendoh, who had lately been supplying him with a great deal of insecurity. For him, despite Sendoh's clear win last time, hope wasn't yet entirely over.

Today was the day on which Rukawa chose to see Mitsui at Colonel's. Except in his jersey, practice attire and school uniform, Rukawa hadn't seen Mitsui donned in anything else. No matter how hard he tried, no matter how long he stretched his imagination, Rukawa couldn't picture what Mitsui would look like working as a part-time waiter. This all the more instilled in him an intense desire to come and see for himself. And for the first time since he last saw Mitsui, he felt excitement and thrill well up inside him.

He closed their front gate behind him and braced himself for a long walk to Colonel's.

--

At Colonel's Diner, 4:48.

'I hope you don't mind.' Kogure was telling Sendoh. For lack of any vacant chairs to nestle themselves in, Kogure and Sakuragi ended up being forced to take theirs at Sendoh's table. But no sooner than he made himself comfortable when Sakuragi decided that Mitsui needed a dose of entertainment. The red-head then walked towards the counter in order to busy himself harassing the working Mitsui. At which, Sendoh and Kogure were left by themselves.

'No bother. There's plenty of space anyway.' Sendoh said, gesturing at the six-sitter table they were on. Critically surveying Kogure, he knew that they were danger of speaking as little as possible. He longed for Mitsui's shift to end. 'Hisashi will be done in a few minutes, I guess.'

'Yes. He'll be free by five o'clock. Anyway, I didn't know you've made friends.'

'We have, in fact. He invited me to this place.'

'Uh-huh. I can imagine that. He said he needed a job for his college fund.'

'He told me that too.' Sendoh replied defensively, as if to say he wasn't uninformed about any Mitsui-related information. By the blank looks he kept on casting on Kogure, it was not hard to tell that the conversation was boring him. Right now, he couldn't imagine himself in any serious or lively discourse with anyone besides Mitsui.

Just then, the entrance door swung open and in a spell Rukawa wordlessly announced himself simply just by being there. Eyes immediately feasted on him. Kogure smiled and waved at him. Sendoh's first instinct was to knit his brows. He was quite unready to be startled, hence his unrestrained astonishment. Rukawa wasn't exactly the person he wished for to rescue him out of a lethally monotonous talk. He knew that Rukawa was there for the same reason as Sendoh himself was and that was to see Mitsui. Rukawa made slow advances towards their table, determined not take a seat yet.

'I didn't know anything about an unspoken rendezvous. So, tell me about the gimmick,' Sendoh muttered then, his dismay increasing by a scale. It was bad enough that two of Mitsui's teammates would be around. But Rukawa's being there would simply be ruinous, a jeopardy. At this rate, Sendoh would have to work twice as hard to achieve Mitsui's undivided attention.

'Why are you here?' Rukawa's cold voice sprang up.

'Nobody said this party's exclusive for Shohoku members only, am I right? But if you really want to know Rukawa, Hisashi invited me.' Sendoh said, assuming a victorious smirk. He so badly wished Rukawa's surprise upon this revelation, but on the contrary Rukawa's face only retained its mask-like steadiness. It consequently dismantled Sendoh's cool.

There was a pause, which spelled trouble no less. Kogure, more than Sendoh and Rukawa, felt the tension heighten. He knew what ferocity these two were capable of when they were on court, and seeing that kind of ferocity in them off-court was a sight Kogure was certain to want to avoid. In his attempt to nip the pressure that was about to ensue, he blurted out,

'Well, I think nothing's going to prevent us from having a delectable meal. Why don't you have a seat, Rukawa?' Kogure smiled nervously. Rukawa obediently bent himself beside him.

After a few minutes more, Mitsui's time was up. He appeared from the personnel's locker room with Hanamichi close on his heels. To Rukawa's disappointment, Mitsui had now changed back to his casual clothes thereby upsetting Rukawa's side purpose of seeing Mitsui in his waiter uniform. As he and Sakuragi drew closer to the three, it appeared that he was engaged in a petty argument with the red-head.

'For the last time Hanamichi, the manager will fire me. I'm trying to earn a decent living here, and if you really care for me don't pester me.'

'Me? Pester you? Come on Mitchy, you were looking like you were gonna shoot yourself anytime you wanted to. You hate this job. Nobody who's seen you can deny you needed to be cheered up a little.'

'Cheering up, meaning, moral support or anything of the like; if it means mocking and brutally teasing me while I punch the bills, I haven't heard of it.'

'I wasn't doing anything like that. Gee, I think you need to go to the police and report the asshole who murdered your sense of humor.'

'Well, that would be you.'

They both halted at where Kogure, Sendoh and Rukawa were sitting. Mitsui seemed to have joined Sakuragi's shock upon bearing witness to Rukawa's presence. Sakuragi tuned up his volume and said,

'Oh, there seems to be an addition to the confederation of losers here. I didn't see you come in, Kitsune.'

'What do you mean by "losers"?' Instead of hearing Rukawa retaliate, Sakuragi found himself confronted by Sendoh.

'Don't pretend--'

'Don't mind this ape, Akira. Anyone who's not him is a loser to him.' Mitsui chided in.

'Mitchy, what are you saying? You're my one and only winner.' Sakuragi said, mimicking the voice of a certain bimbo he knew from somewhere.

'Whatever. Let's eat. I can murder a whole cow.'

Mitsui, obviously fatigued, collapsed on Rukawa's side, and Sakuragi had no choice but to occupy the one beside Sendoh. In time, they placed their orders and began satisfying their long-deprived stomachs. Mitsui spoke up,

'So Rukawa, you came.'

'You said I can come by anytime.'

'Yes, I'm so sorry. I just didn't know you'd take it seriously. You know…'

There was silence again, which was only interrupted by the loud, shameless clutter Sakuragi was making with his bowl. But Sendoh's eyes remained glued on Mitsui. On careful examination, Sendoh deduced a peculiar meaning from Mitsui's treatment of Rukawa. The look he gave the freshman was a speaking singularity, hard to ignore and easy to identify. He was sure it was the kind of regard one offers to another if he thinks him special, or worthy. At this thought, fine symptoms of jealousy abruptly descended on Sendoh. Has Mitsui made a choice? Or would it be better to pay no credit to his actions as much as possible, yet?

'So what are you two doing here?' Sakuragi suddenly burst. He set down his soup bowl and chopsticks, which produced a loud clang that sent other customers staring at him. Sendoh couldn't tell if he was thankful to Sakuragi for breaking the seemingly invincible ice.

'You talking to me?' Sendoh asked.

'I'm talking to you and Rukawa. You look like a bad case of desperation. Did your girlfriends just dump you? High school boys tend to eat their meals alone when they get ditched, you know. I should know. Anyway, in this case you'd have to thank Kogure and me for the company.' Sakuragi finished. His face sopped with haughtiness.

'Oh yeah, great reminder,' Sendoh mumbled under his breath, injecting himself with a dose of more than the prescribed caution. The potential truth that rang in Sakuragi's words was almost too much. What was he (Sendoh) doing there? To see Mitsui, of course. But beyond that? The ulterior? There had got to be something.

'So by definition, you've been dumped.' It was Mitsui's voice that rose, directed to Sakuragi. He was looking triumphant, vengeful. He hadn't yet forgiven Sakuragi for bullying him on the job.

'Naw. I don't know what you're blabbing about.' Sakuragi suddenly looked down as if a painful memory just occurred to him. Everyone remarked the sudden departure of his composure.

'You don't know? But you just sounded so familiarized with the subject. I mean, if I may say so… So, care to bring the skeleton out of the closet?' Kogure teased. Mitsui sniggered out loud with pure satisfaction. A few months ago, Miyagi Ryota, their captain, took the liberty of letting Mitsui in on a little secret: Sakuragi had been turned down by about fifty girls even before he reached senior high. The shocking news traveled fast at the hands of Mitsui and his friends. While the heat of the gossip lasted, Sakuragi was beyond consolation; when it died down, the thought continued to haunt him, as it had from the very beginning. Hence.

'Oh shut up, Megane-kun. Mitchy, you can go to hell.' Sakuragi quivered in white-hot fury.

'Well, you started it.' Mitsui smiled, appealing to the freshman's nonexistent rationality.

'Really, they can build a monument to your jerkness. I hate you.' Sakuragi went on fuming.

'That's you, bitter to the last. Come now Hanamichi, don't be a crybaby. You know you like me.'

At this, both Sendoh and Rukawa lifted their heads, alarmed, albeit to a small degree. Then, as chance would have it, their gazes linked. Sendoh read the indelicacy of Rukawa's stare, not liking a bit of it. It seemed to pronounce its victory and yet, how could he think that he had already outdone Sendoh? Doubt was slow to go in him and he simply resolved to comfort himself with the thought that Mitsui hadn't chosen yet. That's what mattered most.

'Rukawa, sometimes you just have to stand up against Sakuragi. He needs to learn once in a while.' Mitsui told Rukawa.

'Hai, sempai.' Rukawa replied. Mitsui smiled at him.

Sendoh almost lost control. What brazen display of flirtation! He was incensed. It was well above his scope of comprehension, Mitsui's attitude was. It was riling, not to mention erratic. When just last week they seemed to have had a solid understanding, there at the Close-up Convention, now Mitsui was raising the odds in Rukawa's favor, showering the latter with undue attention, neglecting Sendoh as though he were a dirty rag doll. What is this, a seesaw game? Goddamn it! For the first time, Sendoh had a grasp of the bitterness of an unequally returned affection.

But although his thoughts ran along those lines, on the surface, Sendoh only waxed mildly agitated. He shunted his clasped hands on the table, faithfully preserving the fake grin on his face, and foisting good-humor on himself when it was almost impossible to do so. This meeting had become by turns absurd and annoying. There was no privacy at all. He couldn't get Mitsui all to himself. Worse, he never seemed to catch Sendoh's eyes and Sendoh just wished they just kept missing each other. His insanity and jealousy were so close together that he could no longer tell them apart. Surely, the fight wasn't yet decidedly over?

'Sendoh, how's your captainship going?' Kogure then turned to Sendoh, who still hadn't quite gotten over the disturbance.

'Yeah, I've been meaning to ask that. How's Ryonan?' Mitsui added, inclining his head toward Sendoh. Sendoh's inner turmoil abated a little and he was earnest to calm down when he answered,

'Quite alright. Every so often I'd go to Uozomi for advice. He'd give them away excellently. I enjoy being a team leader.' At this point, to his comfort, his thoughts divided, giving way to complacence. At least, Mitsui was aware he still existed.

The exchange slash interview went on, with everyone taking part in it, even Sakuragi who, because he couldn't be shushed, was tolerated to brag all he pleased. Rukawa offered a minimal role as usual, and Mitsui and Kogure did the most part of the talking. In time, the five of them unanimously decided to leave the place. It was still early when they did so and the night ahead called for further skylarking. Both Mitsui and Sakuragi suggested that they all see a film at S Theater House but only Kogure seemed willing enough to linger around.

Forsooth, Sendoh and Rukawa could no longer withstand the sight of each other what with all the circumstances forcing them on each other's company. One more minute together and who knows what explosion might happen between both of them. Thus, they came by a common solution that was carried through mere mutual understanding. Both declined the movie offer on account of a domestic errand they had to run. Because neither was about to allow the other to spend extra time with Mitsui, it was settled that they both should forgo the opportunity. At approximately 7 p.m. Mitsui, Sakuragi and Kogure hailed a taxi to take them to the movie house. Sendoh and Rukawa watched the car zoom off, leaving them standing still on the pavement.

'So, it's you and me again, Rukawa.'

Rukawa just glanced at Sendoh. The night was darker and longer, as a result of what is called a winter solstice. The air was dry, almost unendurably cold, but none as cold as Rukawa's stare.

'Well, I guess time will tell.' Sendoh smiled, uttered his farewell and bowing to Rukawa, turned away. He thought of today's episode, rating it as almost pointless. He didn't get the private moment he strove to have with Mitsui; instead, he received the icky feeling of envy and jealousy, which was nowhere near what he predicted as the worst that could happen. He wished, rather than believed, that Mitsui would make the right choice, the choice he deserved. He still held fast to hope; though his behavior varied, his firmness did not. He hoped that for his part Mitsui would exert more effort to acknowledge his generous admiration. And as he looked back at Mitsui's attention to Rukawa that afternoon, he painstakingly swore it would be the last time he remembered it.

TBC

A/N: yeah, I know. This fic should instead be titled 'Everybody's Jealous'. Hahahaha. Thanks for reading.