HUES

"I shan't!" an obstinate voice rebutted.Exasperated, Sakuragi looked up and yelled for his best friend, Youhei Mito.

"For the last time, Youhei, get her to scram!" Sakuragi glared as he raised Youhei a couple of feet off the ground with a fistful of his Youhei's shirt collar.

"Hey, hey...hold it..."Youhei struggled as he tried to make peace.

Sakuragi tightened his grip and stated,"No way."

Youhei failed to utter a sound anymore as he began to suffocate. He turned from a sickly grey to a bright green and finally a deep purple color before Sakuragi noticed that something was amiss and let go of him, sending him crashing to the ground with a most unpleasant splat and crack.

Sakuragi diverted his attention back to the object of his annoyance.

"Will you let go, you little pesky pest?" Sakuragi shook his leg hard and growled.

"Don't be an idiot. She would have let go much earlier if she meant to."

Youhei snorted as he tried to straighten his bones.

"WHAT?!? How am I supposed to go around with this leech on my leg everywhere?!" Sakuragi said incredulously.

"Find a way yourself." Youhei mumbled dryly.

"Onegai, Hana-oniichan..." Maiko looked at Sakuragi with large, expressive eyes which were currently shimmering with tears.

Sakuragi broke into a sheepish grin as he bent down to gather the little girl into his arms. "I'm sorry then...don't cry..."Sakuragi coaxed.

Maiko broke into a bright smile as tears disappeared miraculously."Can we go to the fair now?"

Sakuragi's grin faded, "I've been conned, I've been conned, I've been conned.."

Maiko beamed. Turning to her brother, Maiko pulled Youhei's sleeve, "Youhei-oniichan, are you coming with us?"

Sakuragi turned a hopeful gaze at Youhei.

Youhei threw back a dark look as he replied,"No. I'm going to the hospital to do an X-ray..."

Sakuragi continued silently cursing himself as Maiko bounced happily all the way and around the fair.

"Hana-oniichan!!" She would call delightedly everytime she developed a new-found interest in anything.

Sakuragi went bright red under the stares of passer-bys as Maiko dragged him along to a stall with whatever childish strength she had.

"Hana-oniichan, you think you can get me that fluffy, biggy, white bear?"

Maiko pulled the side of Sakuragi's black jeans. Sakuragi grinned at the hopeful and pleading look in the small girl's eyes and nodded,"I'll try then."

A few minutes later, Maiko was hugging Sakuragišs long legs tightly as she smiled blissfully, clutching that fluffy, biggy white bear. "Arigato, Hana-oniichan~!"

Sakuragi strode along with Maiko who was now concentrating on her purple and pink cotton candy.

He froze abruptly.

Sakuragi stared at the two familiar figures over at the fortune-telling tent.

"Akira, daijobu?" Koshino followed Sendoh's gaze and caught sight of Sakuragi.

"Ain't that Sakuragi?" Koshino called in one of his rare friendly moods,

"Hey, redhead!"

"Hana-oniichan, he's calling you ne?" Maiko said after observing the color of her companion's hair.

"Nah. Let's go." Sakuragi muttered lowly and begun pulling Maiko towards another direction.

"Wait, Hana-kun!" Sendoh called as he caught up with Sakuragi and Maiko.

"If you are thinking of explaining, you can spare it." Sakuragi said wryly.

"We've separated, remember?"

Sendoh nodded wordlessly.

"Well then, go back to Koshino." Sakuragi smiled.

"Hana-kun, I..."

"Yeah?"

Sendoh looked at Sakuragi sadly as he said wistfully,"I'm sorry it didnšt work for us."

"Yeah. Same here. Now, go. Ja ne. " Sakuragi chuckled.

Sendoh broke into his trademark grin before jogging back to join Koshino.

Maiko studied Sakuragi steadily for a few minutes as they continued walking away.

"Hana-oniichan, daijobu?" Maiko tugged Sakuragišs jeans and asked.

"Yeah sure. Just crying, that's all." Sakuragi muttered.

They made their way out of the fairgrounds quietly at dusk. Sakuragi was carrying a sleeping Maiko in his arms steadily. He took the chance to stay deep in thought. Until he felt someone tap his shoulder.

"Yo." Rukawa said.

"Kaede, hey." Sakuragi greeted. Sakuragi carried on walking with his other best friend as he started talking about the recent NBA games.

Rukawa scruntinized Sakuragi carefully. Did he dare...?

"What are you thinking about?" Sakuragi grinned easily.

"Nothing much..."Rukawa probed cautiously, "You and Sendoh?"

"We've broken up." Sakuragi said almost cheerfully.

"You still like him?" Rukawa asked after a moment.

"No." Sakuragi replied quietly, "Just upset about the breaking up coz I thought we would work out."

"Oh."

Sakuragi blinked as Rukawa suddenly backed him into a wall, "Kaede?"

"Why not try it out with me?" Rukawa whispered almost inaudibly as he closed his eyes and moved forward to kiss Sakuragi passionately.

Sakuragi was startled, but as he slowly relaxed to Rukawa's touch, he began returning the kiss.

Rukawa wound his arms around Sakuragi's waist and Sakuragi, careful not to rouse Maiko, grasped Rukawa's wrist tightly with his free hand.

Both stood there on the empty streets for a few minutes, engaged in lip-lock. When they finally broke apart, Rukawa whispered breathlessly, "Aishiteru, Hana."

Sakuragi grinned as he finally knew his choice. Taking Rukawa's hand in his, he smiled, "Let's take Maiko home to Youhei then..."

"And we go to my house, hmm" Rukawa gave a sly wink.

Sakuragi flushed as brightly as the setting sun as they continued walking in its hues, together.