"Ohayo," Hanamichi greeted Yohei as he walked across the classroom to his desk. "Ohayo," he vaguely heard his friend greet him back. It has been an exhausting week assisting Kaede on the production and Akira in his practice. Haruko also lent a hand, what with her being one of the team of producers, but she did not log in as much time and effort as Hanamichi did. And knowing how kooky everything tends to become with the Kanagawa around, he was grateful that she did.
"You look bad," Yohei commented, as he leaned his chin against his hand.
"I feel bad," Hanamichi groused, dumping his books on his desk before sorting them out in front of him. He then sighed and rested his heavy head on his books, lying his head to the side before closing his eyes.
Yohei continued to study his best friend and after five minutes of waiting he spoke, "What's up?"
Hanamichi opened one of his brown eyes a crack. He had not told Haruko about the kidnapping and other attempts of trouble that befell on him and he sorely wanted someone to talk to who could think neutrally about it. And Yohei, being an outsider in the Kanagawa situation, was the perfect candidate. Slowly, with lowered tones, he relayed what happaned and when he was done, Yohei grew silent with thought.
"I can't tell the future like Haruko-san could, and I'm not a genius when trying to figure out these Kanagawa people. Hell, I've never even met them," Yohei began, "but I can tell you to be careful. Before, it was just the two of us. You and I both know we can take care of ourselves. Now that we're in Shohoku, we've got other people to think about. .." The boy left it unsaid but Hanamichi knew who he was referring to. Haruko. She was probably the most innocent one in this whole situation.
"What if I pull her out of the project?" the redhead suggested.
Yohei shrugged. "Sounds good to me."
Hanamichi nodded. "Yosh. It's settled then. I'll just tell her that she's not needed anymore and have Kaede pay her the rest of her share."
The dark-haired boy was suddenly looking at the area behind Hanamichi's shoulder and coughed. "Speaking of her..."
"Sakuragi-kun!" a fierce whisper blew across his ear, making him jump in startlement and breaking the tension that has developed just now.
"H-Haruko-san!" Hanamichi gasped, clutching at his chest to uselessly calm his rapid beating heart. He had not heard Haruko approach him and he hoped she did not hear what they were saying a few moments ago.
"Look at this," she hissed, pushing another magazine under Hanamichi's nose, an article already marked for his perusal.
"It's about Sendoh-san!"
The redhead scanned the contents quickly and when he reached the end, his eyes grew wide with disbelief. "No way..."
~~~~
The redhead rushed across the mansion's foyer, holding the magazine aloft, while hollering Kaede's name. His loud voice reverberated against the high ceilings and the maid who opened the door for him winced before she scampered away to hide from the noise.
"Kaede!! We've got more trouble-"
"Kaede-kun's not here. Hisashi-kun's in his study though. Do you want me to call him?"
Hanamichi stared at Akira who was standing in the middle of the stairs for a span of three seconds before he quickly hid the magazine behind his back.
"A-Anooo.... that's ok. I'll wait for Kaede."
"What's so important?" the brunette asked huffily as he walked down the stairs. When he realised the odd stance the redhead held himself, Akira narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"Hey, what're you hiding from me?"
"Nothing," the rehead scowled but the guilty look on his face belied the words.
The spikey-haired actor gave the flustered Hanamichi an amused grin.
"Is there another story about me in that magazine that you're hiding from me?"
Akira laughingly approached him, intent on snatching the magazine away from Hanamichi but the redhead restrained him, making them both struggle for ownership of the magazine.
"N-No!" the redhead yelped when Akira nearly got a hold of the magazine.
Hanamichi wrenched himself away from Akira who seemed to have gotten too frisky with the rough-housing and blushed. "It's nothing," he insisted.
Akira's brow scrunched in puzzlement before the blue eys widened in sudden understanding. The eyes looked serious for a moment before they closed, a smile playing on the brunette's lips.
"I see. Is it about me being a bastard son?"
Hanamichi nearly fell to the floor in shock at the bullseye guess and at the calm way Akira has said it to him.
"H-Hai!" The redhead bowed, offering the magazine over to Sendoh like a flustering servant offering an important document to an emperor, and Akira for his part looked as proud as one.
The tall brunette motioned for Hanamichi to follow him out the mansion. "Let's talk outide. I need some fresh air, anyway."
Hanamichi complied meekly.
Outside the mansion, Akira and Hanamichi walked side-by-side, the actor in the midst of collecting his thoughts while the redhead waited wordlessly.
"Have you met the master of this house?" Akira suddenly asked.
"The guy you called Anzai-san?" The redhead shook his head. "No."
Akira stuffed his hands in his pocket and explained, "He and my father are brothers. They are similar like most brothers are except that Anzai-san has a head for business while my father has a head more for women. Outosan's a shrewd businessman, make no mistake about it, but he loves women just as much. He sleeps around with women he falls in love with - which is often - and one of these women is my mother. Shinichi is the only child of lawful marriage and therefore he retains the Kanagawa name from our father."
"That's why your name is Sendoh and Shinichi's is Kanagawa," Hanamichi said, suddenly realising the discrepancy.
The brunette smiled, looking up at the leaves of the trees they were walking under. "Let them write whatever they want in the papers. I don't care. Wherever and however I come into being, I'm still me. Akira Sendoh."
Hanamichi grinned. "The one and only."
"Hai. The one and only!" Akira laughed.
The redhead joined in his laughter as the tension lifted to make way for the joyous knowledge that everything was alright. They were who they are and that was all that matters. Hanamichi looped his arm around Akira's and playfully tugged at the brunette forward for them to continue enjoying the quiet and peaceful scenery of the mansion's green grounds. As he watched Akira's blue eyes twinkle in merriment and sunshine, he could not help but feel a strong emotion for the brunette. It was probably due to the fact that he has witnessed an amazing strength coming from Akira or it was probably due to the fact that as he looked at the handsome smiling face of the brunette, he could distinctly remember the feel of Akira's soft lips the first time the young man kissed him. In the midst of his chatter he suddenly fell silent, blushing and cursing himself at the feelings running inside him.
Akira stopped and regarded at the blushing redhead curiously. "Daijoubu?"
Hanamichi stared at Akira as in confusion. How shall I say this? Tell him that I was thinking about our kiss that was my first?
"Akira."
The two spun around and saw Hisashi leaning against one of the side doors of the mansion with a cordless phone in his hand.
"Yes?" Akira asked.
"It's nearly time," Hisashi said.
"Yeah," Akira acknowledged.
At Hanamichi's questioning look, Akira told him. "I've got some shooting to do at the Hakuba resort starting today. It'll take a week so I'll be away until it's finished."
"Oh."
After Akira packed up his necessary things, Hisashi and Hanamichi walked him to his car. Ignoring Hisashi's presence, Akira bent down to give the surprised redhead a kiss on the cheek before he turned to Hisashi.
"Don't," the scarred-face man warned.
Akira grinned and gave Hisashi a flying kiss instead which earned him a sour look in return. Chuckling in amusement, the actor got into his black porsche and started the engine.
"Ja ne," he said with a wink at both the young men and drove away.
As Hanamichi watched the black car disappear from view, Hisashi took out a cigarette and began to light it.
"Missing him already?" the brunette asked, noting the sad look on the redhead's face.
"Kinda," Hanamichi confessed, "He's great to have around."
Hisashi 'hmm'ed before he took a slow drag out of his cigarette. "You're stepping on dangerous grounds, Sakuragi."
Hanamichi scowled down at the 18 year old, praying that a blush would not appear on his face. "I'm just saying that he's fun to be with. Not unlike some people I know."
"Whatever." Hisashi shrugged and turned to go. Hanamichi was about to follow when he heard a rustling sound nearby, making him turn around to catch where it came from. What he saw gave him pause before he started crying out loud, "Hisashi-kun!! An intruder!"
The scarred-face youth turned around in surprise.
"What?"
"There!" the redhead shouted running towards the skulking figure who was started to flee the scene. Hanamichi ran, jumping over the bushes where the stranger was hiding at a few moments ago, and pounced, landing on top of the unknown man heavily. He dimly heard the stranger give a sound of surprise before he dragged the man up from the ground.
"Here he is! What are you doing here, oyajii?" demanded Hanamichi, not releasing his arm lock around the man's fat neck.
Hisashi was unmoving, seemingly in shock. Suddenly, he stalked forward and placed a well-aimed hit on the back of Hanamichi's head.
"Itee! Whatcha do that for!?" the redhead yelled.
"Let go of outosan, aho!" Hisashi yelled back.
The redhead stared at Hisashi before he turned to stare at the white haired man who was still in his grip. "O-Outosan!?"