Sixteen months later- Shohoku
"He tripped me! Hey, what the fuck, ref! That was tripping!"
Rukawa glared up at the ref, and then at Sendoh, who was looming over him in his Tendouji jersey. "You fell," Sendoh said.
"I didn't fall. It was tripping."
"Yes. Was you tripping over your own feets."
"Get fucked, Sendoh."
Sendoh's lips quirked up. "Was planning on it."
And now Rukawa had to bite back a grin. He rose to his knees, then stood, still mad as hell. Sendoh had totally tripped him.
The crowd was booing, cursing Sendoh's name, and Rukawa got up in his face. "Stop being an asshole."
"Stop falling down."
Rukawa jabbed him in the chest with a finger. He heard the crowd roar its approval. "You can't beat me without cheating."
Sendoh raised an eyebrow. "You don't think?"
Someone grabbed Rukawa's arm and pulled him away. "All right, keep it in your pants, you two!"
"Hi, Sakuragi," Sendoh said, grinning.
"I still don't like you, Spiky," Sakuragi said.
"Oh no!" Sendoh mocked him. "How can I impress Shohoku's fifteenth best player?"
"Kitsune, I'm gonna punch him."
"Don't."
"I'm gonna punch him."
"No you're not," the ref barked. "Get back to your benches, all three of you. It's a commercial break. Go cool off."
Sendoh winked at Rukawa and then walked to his bench. Rukawa could feel his cheeks burning.
"I still can't believe he's your...you know," Sakuragi grumbled as they headed for their own bench.
"Quiet."
"I know. I know. Just...it fucks me up, thinking about it."
"Then, don't!"
"I mean, I could have found you a nice dude, if you had just-"
"Shut it."
They had reached the bench, and although Rukawa had come out to his teammates last season, he hadn't told any of them about Sendoh. Sakuragi had done the math and figured it out after a Ryonan road trip a month ago.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" he had said as they'd walked to their cars after arriving home from a road trip. "You know how you used to get meet up with your mystery man every time we played in Ryonan? But now you don't."
"Um. We, uh...broke up," Rukawa had said quickly. And unconvincingly.
"Uh-huh. But you've been going to Okinawa a lot this month."
"Yeah, my parents live there. I've been, um, visiting."
"Your parents have always lived there, and they coming to Shohoku even more than you go to Okinawa. So, I have another theory. I think your mystery man is Akira Sendoh."
Rukawa had been flooded with a mixture of fear and shame, but also relief. He didn't say anything until they'd reached Sakuragi's car, and then he'd blown out a breath and nodded.
Sakuragi had blanched. "Holy fuck. I was sort of joking. Are you for real...doing stuff...with Sendoh?"
"Yes."
"Wait, seriously? Did he sign with Tendouji to be closer to you? What the fuck is happening?"
"It's one reason, yes."
Sakuragi had turned and placed both hands on the roof of his car, leaning forward like he was trying to breathe through a cramp. "Kitsune, this is not good, man."
"It's not ideal, no. But... I love him."
Sakuragi had looked at him, after he'd said that, like Rukawa had sprouted wings and a tail, and Rukawa had been sure he'd just lost his best friend. But, instead of yelling at him or getting in his car and speeding away, Sakuragi had just nodded and said, "I think I need to meet him properly, then."
They had met properly, once, since then, but it hadn't gone particularly well. Sakuragi couldn't think of Sendoh as anything but the enemy, and Sendoh had responded with relentless snark. So they weren't exactly friends.
"You sure you wanna do that press conference tomorrow?" Sakuragi asked. "I mean, no one knows that you guys are friends right now. You could keep it that way."
"I'm sure." Rukawa was definitely sure. He and Sendoh had been planning for tomorrow for over a year.
He had sold the hookup building, and Sendoh had sold most of his car collection. With the combined earnings, they'd started the Misara Foundation. Tomorrow, at a hotel conference room downtown, they would be announcing, and, more importantly, explaining the foundation they had created together.
"It's a good cause, I suppose," Sakuragi sighed. "I apologize in advance if Sendoh has a black eye for the press conference."
"Don't you dare to punch him."
"I'll make a deal: if he stops being a fucking dick, I won't punch him."
Rukawa grimaced. Sendoh was definitely going to have a black eye tomorrow.
Sendoh found Rukawa in the bathroom down the hall from the conference room. He was gripping the counter and staring down into one of the sinks.
"Relax, Rukawa," Sendoh said. He was probably as nervous as Rukawa was, really, but Rukawa was much worse at hiding it. Sendoh put his hands on Rukawa's shoulders and rubbed gently, careful not to wrinkle his light gray suit jacket.
"I'm nervous," Rukawa said unnecessarily.
"I know."
"We've been planning for this day for over a year and now it's here and I'm scared. I don't even know why!"
"Our plan has worked perfectly so far," Sendoh said.
"Too perfectly. I keep waiting for something to go wrong."
It had seemed too easy, so far. When Sendoh's contract had ended with Ryonan, Tendouji had been all too happy to sign him. Sendoh had bought a large, private house on the edge of the Okinawa River with a four-car garage. The garage currently held two sports cars and a very sensible Mercedes SUV. "Is good in snow," Sendoh had explained sheepishly when he'd first shown it to Rukawa. "For driving between Okinawa and Kanagawa."
They had agreed that it would be easier to continue in secret if they weren't both living in apartment buildings, so Rukawa had bought a house in Naha that was still close to the Sendoh team's practice facility.
Sendoh wrapped his arms around his boyfriend now, to pull him back against his chest. Rukawa met his eyes in the mirror. "Your cheek looks better than I thought it would."
"Is still sore."
"Serves you right. You were an asshole to Sakuragi."
"Sakuragi is an asshole to me."
Rukawa sighed. "I have terrible taste in men. For friends and boyfriends." He closed his eyes and tilted his head back against Sendoh's shoulder.
"Will be fine," Sendoh said. He kissed Rukawa's temple and nuzzled his hair.
"Don't mess my hair up," Rukawa murmured, but he was smiling.
"Teme!" Sendoh turned his head to see Sakuragi standing just inside the door with his hand over his eyes. "I'm still not used to that. You guys know this is, like, a public bathroom, right?"
Sendoh dropped his arms, and Rukawa stepped away. Sakuragi was right. Rukawa and Sendoh weren't even out, publicly, as gay and bisexual, let alone as a couple. They'd agreed that they wanted their private lives to be their own, and they would only tell the people they wanted to include in that life. So far, it was a very small circle. A small circle that, much to Sendoh's chagrin, included Sakuragi.
"Anyway," Sakuragi said, looking at the wall and not to them, "Kitsune, your mom asked me to look for you. They fixed the audio problem, so you can start any time."
"Okay, thanks. We'll be right out."
Sakuragi nodded. "I'll stand outside the door, but you have, like, two minutes, tops, all right? Don't y'know, start anything."
Sendoh knew Rukawa was rolling his eyes. "We won't. Doaho."
When the door was closed, Sendoh laughed. "He thinks you can't come in two minutes?"
"Oh, shut up."
Sendoh grabbed his hand and pulled him close. "I want to tell you, before we do this, that I am...very happy today. My mother would have really liked this. And I think she is with me today. And proud."
Oh, oops. Now Rukawa's eyes were glistening. "She has so many reasons to be proud of you, Akira."
Sendoh smiled at him. "I need to kiss you here, or else I will do it out there."
"Okay."
He held Rukawa's face in his hands and gazed at him for a few seconds before leaning in and kissing the hell out of him.
"I love you," Sendoh said.
"I love you too."
Sendoh nodded. "Remember that when I am being a dick to you out there."
Rukawa smiled and kissed him again. "Don't worry, I'm used to it."
The room was packed with people who were dying to see what announcement Kaede Rukawa and Akira Sendoh would be making together. Rukawa wasn't sure what rumors had been stirred up by this press conference, but it was time to end the suspense.
They had agreed that Rukawa would do most of the talking. Sendoh was by no means shy, but Rukawa knew he was uneasy making long speeches in English. Besides, Rukawa wanted to make sure everything was said in both English and Japanese, since both Kanagawa and Okinawa were bilingual people's.
"Akira and I have been competing against each other for over eight seasons. A lot has been said, and written, about our rivalry. About what makes us different as players, and as people. But I don't say enough how much I respect Akira, not only as one of the best players in the JBL, but as a person. He is a great leader, a fierce competitor, and an amazing goal scorer. But over the years I have also gotten to know him off the court, and I consider him a friend."
That statement alone created a swell of murmurs throughout the room.
Rukawa read through the words again, in English this time, and then continued. "When Akira signed with Okinawa team, we began talking about creating a charity together. Today that dream is a reality. The Misara Foundation will raise money and awareness for organization that provide support, counseling, and assistance for people who are suffering from depression and other mental illnesses that can lead to suicide. It's a cause that is important to both of us, and I am very happy and proud to be working with Akira to create something that can hopefully help a lot of people."
He translate in English, and as he finished, he heard Sendoh clear his throat.
"Ah, I can only say my part in Japanese." He smiled, which made the audience laugh. "This is not in the notes, but I want to say that the Misara Foundation is named for my mother. And she's a pure lovely women Japanese. She battled depression without help for many years. She had no support, no medical treatment. When she..."
Rukawa didn't think. He just reached out a hand and placed it on Sendoh's forearm, where it rested on the table. He hadn't expected Sendoh to say any of this, but looking at Sendoh now, Rukawa knew he needed to say it.
"My mother died when I was eleven years old. She lost her battle. This foundation is for her. It is to help people like her, so they do not have to fight alone."
Sendoh looked down at the table and sniffed. Rukawa patted his arm, wishing he could hold his hand or kiss his hair. His chest felt light, and his eyes burned.
After a long moment where you could have heard a pin drop in the crowded room, Rukawa spoke. "Thank you, Akira."
He went on to explain the basketball camps they would be hosting in Shohoku and in Okinawa that summer, with all proceeds going directly to the foundation. He named some of the organizations they planned to focus on when they made their first donations, and he announced his mother, Yuna, as the director and treasurer of the foundation. Neither he nor Sendoh could imagine a better person for the job.
He ended by talking about their website, where people could make donations online, and then opened the floor to questions.
When it was over, Rukawa pulled Sendoh out of the room. He texted Sakuragi.
Kitsune: Need you to guard the door again.
Rukawa herded Sendoh into the bathroom and pushed him back against the door as soon as it closed. He confirmed that the room was empty, and then said, "Come here." He stood on his tiptoes and kissed him. "I didn't think you'd say any of that."
"Neither did I."
They kissed again, completely unhurried, and Rukawa really hoped Sakuragi had gotten his text.
"I wanted to kiss you out there," Sendoh said.
"I wanted to climb into your lap out there. I'm so fucking proud of you, Akira. I'm...proud to be with you. I want you to know that, even if we keep it secret, I'm proud to be with you."
"I know. Me too. When the time is right, we will stop being a secret."
Rukawa still wasn't sure when that would be. They had talked about waiting until one or both of them had retired, but that seemed like much too long a wait. Rukawa felt he could easily play for another ten years at least.
"Are you sure you need to go back to Okinawa today?"
"Yes. And you are flying to Hokkaido tonight."
"I know," Rukawa sighed.
"This is why I want my pilot license. Would be faster."
Rukawa groaned. "Please don't get your pilot license. I will be very mad if you fly into a mountain and die."
"Aw. Sweet."
There was a knock on the door, followed by Sakuragi's voice. "Hey, uh, could you guys wrap it up, maybe? I kinda need to get in there for legitimate bathroom reasons."
Sendoh sighed and stepped aside, and Rukawa opened the door.
"Good press conference, guys," Sakuragi said as he strode past them toward the urinals. "Sorry about your mother, Spiky. That sucks."
Sendoh gave Rukawa a look that said this is your best friend? Rukawa ignored him.
"You think it went okay?" Rukawa asked Sakuragi.
"For sure. It's like, powerful, right? Rivals coming together for a greater cause. I mean, no one in that room knows you guys are all in love and shit." He finished at the urinal and went to wash his hands. "By the way you were looking at Sendoh, Rukawa, I thought people were gonna figure it out. Hell, I thought you were gonna start sucking face in front of the whole Japan. Like crybaby Sawakita."
"No way," said Rukawa.
"We have better control than Eiji Sawakita."
Sakuragi flicked the water off his hands, then rubbed them on his pants. "Would have been memorable, though."
"Not really what we wanted the focus to be today," Rukawa said.
"Okay, well, I've gotta take the twins to a birthday party, so I have to split." Sakuragi stepped forward and hugged Rukawa. Then, without hesitation, he extended his hand to Sendoh.
Sendoh shook it, then patted him on the back. "Thank you, Sakuragi."
"Yeah, well...sorry about your face, I guess. Not that you didn't deserve it."
"Is okay. My face can heal. Your face, however..."
"All right," Rukawa interrupted. "That's enough. Bye, Sakuragi." He shoved Sakuragi out the door and then turned to Sendoh. "I'm gonna go find Mom. Come find me in a bit, okay?"
"Yes. I will."
Sendoh found himself in the same position Rukawa had been in earlier: gripping the bathroom counter, staring into the sink, deep in thought.
His life was so close to perfect now, even with the secrets he was keeping. Secrets he was letting go of, like balloons, one at a time. Now the whole Japan knew he and Rukawa were friends. Now the whole Japan knew the truth about his mother's death. He imagined he would be hearing from Ayari about that, but he really didn't care. His brother had only called him a couple of times since their father's funeral, and only to ask for money, which Sendoh had refused.
Fuck Ayari. Akira had a better family now.
Rukawa's parents had come over for dinner last night at Rukawa's house, and there had been a moment- when Sendoh had spilled some cooking wine and Rukawa had wordlessly handed him a cloth- that Sendoh had been struck by how right it all felt. To be at home, with this man he loved, making food together for Rukawa's family. The family who had been so warm and welcoming to Sendoh, once the initial shock had worn off.
Sendoh hadn't been kidding about wanting to marry him. And not for citizenship, of course. He wanted to be Kaede's husband, and to live together, and maybe even raise children together. Not as many children as Sakuragi had, but, like, a reasonable number.
Sendoh had been snarky about Eiji Sawakita's lack of self-control, but sometimes he was dying to do the same thing. He would fantasize about grabbing Rukawa at the end of a game and kissing him, right there on the court in front of everyone. Just get it over with and out there and anyone who had a problem with it could fuck off.
Baby steps, Sendoh reminded himself.
The All-Star Game was coming up, though, and he and Rukawa would be on the same team again. Sendoh was only about sixty percent sure he wouldn't kiss Rukawa against the court if he scored a goal off of a pass from him.
Sendoh smiled at his reflection in the mirror and smoothed his tie. He would have to warn Rukawa about the possibility of being kissed at the All-Star Game, just to stress him out.
He pulled out his phone to check the time, and a message popped up.
Kaede: Don't leave without saying goodbye.
Sendoh wrote back right away.
Akira: Never.
He had a surprise for Rukawa, actually. He had booked a room in this hotel. They had less than two hours before Sendoh needed to hit the road, but after years of practice they were good at making the most of an hour or two of privacy.
Akira: 711
He texted, and waited for Rukawa's reply.
Kaede: Seriously? I like the room number. See you soon.
Sendoh chuckled, set an alarm on his phone, and went to meet his boyfriend.
THE END
First of all, I just want to say, Thank You very much for those who's liking this story! You guys so amazing. I'm sorry for any mistaken about this story. I just love SenRu very much. And so you too, guys! We love SenRu!
And for my dear beloved... Girl, Caro, PauPau, Tere08, Amber, Lily, Periwinkle, KikiLovesRuru, and the silent readers. I love you, guys. Thank You for the support, reading this story, giving me an review, and correctly my mistaken. I really appreciated! Sayonara for our Kiki and Ruru story...MUAH!
Xoxo, EvilesstDamn.
