A tall boy was seen running hastily along the street that dark night and he was quite fast considering that he had to carry another boy his age and build on his back. The boy doing the running (and carrying) has red hair and if the night wasn't so dark, passerbys would see that his face was just as red.

At last the boy reached his destination and stopped, bending a bit and gasping heavily.
"Oi... *gasp*...Kitsune...*wheeze*... your home!"

Rukawa looked up and said, "So it is."
Hanamichi hearing Rukawa's voice lacking the slur of a drunk cried out, "Hey! You're sober! Now get offa me!"

"You are still holding me, do'aho."

"Oh," Hanamichi blushed releasing Rukawa's legs. Rukawa gracefully got to his feet and brushed past the red-head to open the door.

"No need to thank the tensai! It is my duty after all I....." Hanamichi didn't get to finish his speech when suddenly Rukawa shut the door in front of his face.

"DAMN FOX! IF THAT IS HOW YOU SHOW GRATITUDE I'LL NEVER HELP YOU AGAIN! FORCED OR NOT!"

Hanamichi began ranting more curses, insults and threats until he became tired of it. He humphed and began walking back to his own home.

When Hanamichi's voice stopped, Rukawa was already in his bedroom stripping off his clothes. "Do'aho," he sighed. I was about to throw you a shoe or an empty can in your face if you hadn't stopped.

After a warm bath, he got to bed and settled in the blankets. Promptly he fell asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The whole world seemed brighter and blooming flowers of pastel colours hung in the air. Violin music played in the back ground accompanied by a choir of sopranos singing about love and devotion.

Hanamichi was in heaven as Haruko accepted the gift and his declaration of love when suddenly he was run over by a two-wheeled contraption. Gone was the lovely world as Haruko ran over to the fox-eyed boy on the bicycle.

Hanamichi jumped up and ran over to the couple shouting, "You! Fox! Don't you dare take away my girl!"

The dark haired boy turned around and opened his mouth as if to say something -



RRRRINNGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A hand gropped for the alarm clock and banged the button down to shut off the noise. Hanamichi groggily sat up and looked at the clock with half shut eyes.

6.30am?

He wondered why he had set up the clock for that time when he suddenly remembered that he planned to practice himself privately so that he can stun the others when the next game comes. Not that I am not good enough but practice can make me extra perfect! thought the red-head already feeling awake as the ego set itself into him.

He took a shower, put on his clothes, grabbed a ball and sprinted off to a court where he can practice in peace. When he thought of a chance that he might meet Haruko along the way of the court as she takes her morning jog, he picked up his pace turning his face here and there scanning for a certain lovely girl.

Reaching the deserted court he was disappointed on not being able to meet the object of his affections. Maybe she was tired from last night's party, thought Hanamichi scratchign his head. The redhead dribbled and played around with the ball, throwing the ball for a shot, sometimes missing the basket, sometimes not.

Hanamichi jumped and grabbed the ball that rebounded off the board before landing easily on his feet, dribbling the ball again for another shot. When he turned around he saw someone who he didn't think he would be seeing that early in the morning, considering last night.

"Oi! Rukawa! Whatcha doing here?" Hanamichi asked arrogantly.

"To practice some basketball, do'aho," the boy said twirling the ball on his index finger.

"Hey! Who you calling do'aho!" raged the red-head.

"You, of course. Only an idiot like yourself couldn't guess that," Rukawa said putting his backpack near his bicycle. "What did you think I'd be here for?"

"Probably to check out the competition!"

"Competition? Where?" Rukawa asked making a show of turning his head around, his free hand positioned as if to cut out the glare of the sun as he searched for the 'competition'.

"Why you....!"

"Sakuragi!"

Hanamichi's mouth instantly curved upwards and his cheeks started to get warm. "Waaaa!! Haruko-chan! Ohayo gozaimassssss!"

"Ohayo gazaimasu, Sakuragi-kun!" Haruko replied as she jogged on one spot still not noticing Rukawa was there.

Rukawa snorted and started dribbling his ball. Usually he wouldn't mind seeing Hanamichi fawn over the girl, not understanding why the idiot did that, and then he would just forget about the red-head and practice ball. But that morning he felt an odd feeling insert itself in him. Irritation and ... and something else. And it seemed to tug stronger at his heart as he watched the red-head foolishly grinning to whatever the girl has to say.
And that feeling would NOT GO AWAY!

Rukawa suddenly ran up to the basket hoop and with force made a slam dunk, making the pole rattle fiercely. He landed on his feet breathing heavily trying to make that feeling go away. He looked up and saw that the two were looking at him, one with hearts in her eyes gazing adoringly at him and the other fuming with fury. Suddenly not wanting to be there, he picked up his ball and walked back to his bicycle.

"Oi, Fox!" Hanamichi yelled, "Where're ya going? Afraid to fight the tensai?"

Rukawa hopped onto his only mode of transportation and cycled away, ignoring Hanamichi's taunts.

The feeling in his heart eased a little as he parked his bicycle outside his house. The house was empty, his parents had long passed away and his older brother was now working at a Singaporean branch of the company he was working with. He went up to his room and threw his bag on the floor angrily.

Damn! Because of that fool I can't do any practice in peace!

Oh? It has never been a problem before. Why is it a problem now? Face it! You were jealous!

That's crazy!!

You can't stand that he gives his attention to that girl and forgot about you!

I don't need attention! Especially from that monkey! I only want to be the best in basketball!

Really? Don't you feel kind of lonely lately?

I am way past being lonely! I've been alone nearly all my life.

Not when that do'aho is around. He always manages to get us riled up. Nobody can do that but him!

He continued to fight with his inner self, not noticing that the day was slipping and the sky turning dark. It was already late in the afternoon when he stood up suddenly, feeling his stiff bones crack from lack of movement. He winced slightly but rushed out of the house back towards the basketball court.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nearing his destination he could not hear any sound of a dribbling ball but he kept on jogging towards it. Once reaching it he saw that Hanamichi had not left but was however fast asleep lying outstretched on the ground. Rukawa reduced his pace and when he reached the sleeping boy he stopped, looking down at him. He hunched down on his heels as he looked down at the boy carefully.

Hanamichi's chest rythmically rose and fell with each breath. And his red-hair looked as if touched with gold as the golden rays of the setting sun melted on it. But what caught Rukawa's attention was the face. It looked so innocent in his sleep. The face that always scrunches up to jeer or curse at him was eased and now it looks more attractive in the sleeper's peaceful state. And the lips...

What if I....? What will happen if....? I need to find out...

Without thinking more about it Rukawa leaned down and brushed Hanamichi's mouth with his own.
Then he sat back up on his hunches and examined his feelings. Not finding what he seek, he shrugged and leaned down again, this time kissing the red-head with more pressure.

Hanamichi stirred and groaned. Rukawa expected Hanamichi's eyes to open in shock and then hit him to a bloody pulp but instead Hanamichi opened his mouth, giving an open mouth kiss to the surprised dark-haired boy. Rukawa's heart started to beat fast as he boldly slipped his tongue inside the red-head's mouth. When the still-sleeping boy touched it with his own, Rukawa's heartbeat increased its tempo.

Suddenly Hanamichi's eyes fluttered open. Realising who was kissign him, he gasped and gave a hard shove at the other boy. Rukawa fell on his back as the red-head scrambled up from the ground and then glared at him in anger and confusion.

"What the hell was that, Rukawa?!" Hanamichi demanded angrily, furiously rubbing his lips with the back of his hand.

Rukawa looked at him from the ground. Picking himself up, he stood in front of the flushed face red-head and opened his mouth.
"I... I think I like you."

Hanamichi's jaw dropped and stared at the other boy as if he's gone crazy.

"W-what makes you think that I like guys?!" cried Hanamichi hotly.

"Then why did you kiss me back?" Rukawa asked.

"I thought you were Haruko-chan!" Hanamichi yelled at him and then realising what he had said he immedietly covered his mouth, his face getting red.

Rukawa's eyes narrowed. "I see," he said. He stood up and walked away, leaving an embarrassed and baffled redhead behind.



to be continued......