The next day, gym time:

Ayako fumed at the scene before her. Hanamichi was acting his usual loud, obnoxious self. But the familiarity stopped there. The redhead's goofiness whenever Haruko was around did not surface. Instead he seemed to be distracted, glancing once or twice at Rukawa's direction.
Something's up and I don't like it when I don't know what! thought Ayako annoyed.

Then...

"Sakuragi-kun?"

"Huh... what... AHAHAH... Haruko-chan! What are you doing here?" Hanamichi asked, a big smile on his face.

Haruko blinked, "But, Sakuragi-kun... I was here for the last ten minutes. I tried to call you but you didn't seem to hear me. Is anything wrong?"

Rukawa looked at the two which seemed to be of non-interest but in fact his fist was clenched to the ball so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Feeling eyes on him, he turned around and saw the manageress looking at him curiously. He ignored her and went back to practice.

I'm going to have a talk with one of them pronto! I can't stand being in the dark! Ayako vowed, slapping her paper fan on her lap.

"Itee..." Ayako winced as she rubbed on her flank, "It does hurt..."

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

It was the end of the practice when Anta picked up the broom to start his cleaning duty. A hand suddenly fell on his shoulder.

"Hey, Anta, let me take over for you today," said Hanamichi.

"Huh? Why?" the shorter junior asked puzzled.

"Just give me the damn broom," said the redhead lowly, leaning threateningly over the boy.

"Ok," Anta squeaked, thrusting the broom quickly in Hanamichi's hands and running into the locker room to get changed with the rest of the players. Hanamichi started sweeping the floor as he took quick glances towards Anta's duty partner, Rukawa.

Ayako was about to walk towards Hanamichi when Miyagi tapped her on her shoulder.
"Umm... Ayako. Mind if I walk you home"

"Huh? Well... umm..." she looked towards Hanamichi but then decided that she could catch the redhead later, she nodded. "Sure, why not... Miyagi, what's wrong with your head?" she asked pointing at the boy's head.

"Oh," he said rubbing gingerly at the bump, "I tripped on the bench while I was changing and banged my head on the locker. I think I broke it ... the bench I mean."

"Well, check tomorrow and see if the bench is really broken or not. We don't want anyone hurting themselves in there," advised Ayako.

"Of course," agreed Miyagi as he led Ayako out.

When the others had left as well, Hanamichi continued with his duty but discreetely sweeping his way towards the dark-haired boy's space, and then accidentally bumping into Rukawa.

"Opps, sorry," Hanamichi said.

Rukawa didn't even looked at him but continued his task without a word. Hanamichi scowled. I've got to try to find a way to know how the kitsune feels about me right now!

Again feeling someone looking at him from behind, Rukawa stopped.
"Do you have something to say, do'aho?" he asked without turning around.

Hanamichi looked at him in surprise, and suddenly beginning to feel flustered. Oh shit! Now what do I say?

"Uh... it's... it's..." What? What do I say?

Maybe I should tell him that Haruko doesn't feel anything about me other than friendship. Then he would start liking me back...

"It's... it's about Haruko..."

"What about Haruko?" Rukawa nearly snapped, turning quickly at the redhead.

Hanamichi was startled at the other boy's sudden response that he took a step back. Too quickly that he upset his balance, again for the second time that week, and fell down on his butt.

Rukawa sighed. He shouldn't have lost his temper like that, but hearing the girl's name from the boy sitting in front of him at that moment, made him go insanely jealous that he thought it was stupid of him to feel that way.

"What about her," Rukawa tried again.

"Well, it's.. it's... OUCH!" Hanamichi cried suddenly as he tried to stand up.

Rukawa looked at him as he touched at his ankle. "Uh," the redhead said embarressed, "The ankle I twisted yesterday? I think I made it worse. Uh ... and ... and..."

"And what?"

"And that I think I twisted the other one as well," he said getting more embarrassed.

Rukawa arched an eyebrow, "That confirms my suspicion"

"About what?" Hanamichi asked afraid that Rukawa might know what he is thinking.

"That you are an absolute clutz"

"What?! Temme - " Hanamichi stopped when suddenly Rukawa bent down to scoop him up.

"Wha... what are you doing?! Put me down! I'm not an invalid!" protested Hanamichi, face burning.

"At the moment you are. Now stay still," said Rukawa in a tone that brook no arguments. Hanamichi did as he was told and let Rukawa carry him to the locker room like a baby.

If the others see me like this I'd die! But..., he looked at the boy carrying him through lowered lids ... if I get the answer that I want, then it's worth it.

Rukawa tried to keep his feelings in check as he carried the redhead in his arms. The hurt boy had looked so childishly adorable in his pain that he had wanted to kiss him - just a little kiss on his forehead, or a peck on his cheek. And the warm body of Hanamichi's close to him is so distracting. Reaching the locker room, he started to lower Hanamichi on a bench.

When he set the redhead down, the bench suddenly gave away. Hanamichi, too surprised to do anything, only managed to clutch at Rukawa by wrapping his arms around the other boy's neck. Rukawa, too preoccupied with his thoughts was unable to keep his balance and, therefore, was sent tumbling down with the redhead.

The two lay there dazed with the broken bench underneath them, Rukawa on top of Hanamichi.

Rukawa then realised that they were in a rather compromising position.
"Let go," he told the redhead whose arms were still around his neck.

Hanamichi looked up at the intense blue eyes, trying to remember to breath. "Why?" he dared himself to ask. Then his throat went suddenly dry when those eyes slipped down to look at his lips. Suddenly Rukawa bent his head and placed a passionate but gentle kiss on Hanamichi's mouth.

"That's why," Rukawa rasped. To his surprise Hanamichi's arm wound around his neck tighter, bringing him closer until their noses were nearly touching.

"Sakuragi?" Rukawa questioned, a small hint of surprise in his voice.

"I think I like that reason. Care to show me more?" the redhead said, tone seemingly serious, but his brown eyes twinkled with mischief. Now Rukawa's normally stoic face showed bewilderment, "What about Haruko?"

"A friend. Just a friend," the redhead answered before tilting his head up to kiss the dark-haired boy's parted lips. Rukawa wanted to question the redhead further but the feel of the other boy's insistent lips on his own shut his brain down of those thoughts.

Ayako walked across the court with a determined expression on her face. As she was walking home with Miyagi, on the way she realised that she was still dying to know what was wrong with those two juniors. She managed to fool Miyagi that she was going straight into her house, but as soon as the boy was gone from sight, she slipped away and jogged back towards the gym.

I wonder if they're still here... Ayako wondered. But then she saw two brooms laying across the floor.
They're still here? So where are they? Oh God! I hope they are not killing each other somewhere! she hoped desperately breaking her stride to a run towards the locker room.

Quickly sliding the door open she saw a scene that made her eyes pop out.

It was of Rukawa and Hanamichi making out on the floor.

She was only able to manage a strangle "Eep!" to come out from her lips but that was enough to get the attention of the boy on top.

Rukawa wrenched his lips away from the redhead's, as he turned around to see ... a very, very shocked Ayako!
Hanamichi, suddenly getting over his dazed state when he saw the manageress at the door, let go of the fox-eyed boy and together they scrambled to their feet, the redhead blushing furiously.

"Ayako ... we - uh .. that is ..." Hanamichi tried as he busied his trembling hands to straighten out his mussed hair. Rukawa only stood still and quiet, showing his usual stony expression, but with a hint of red on his pale cheeks and his shirt more than slightly rumpled.

"Sakuragi, shut up," Ayako said holding up her hand, seeming to have gotten over her shock.

"Yes'm," Hanamichi mumbled.

"Well," Ayako exhaled, "now I know what's been going on with you two."

"What?" Hanamichi asked puzzled.

"You two guys have been acting weird lately and I notice. I just can't believe it - you two! You TWO!" she squealed coming up to them and slapping them on their shoulders.

Hanamichi continued blushing while Rukawa looked annoyed.
"Well, I - I'm glad you're not upset about this... .But... you won't tell anyone about this, right?" Hanamichi hoped desperately.

Ayako laughed, "Of course, I won't! Don't be silly! I'm ok with this. Just don't let it ruin your performance, ne?"

"Self-assure that it won't," Rukawa said finally speaking.

"Good, good," grinned Ayako before walking out and giving them a wave along the way.

When Ayako was gone, Hanamichi breathed a sigh of relief, "Phewh! Good thing it was Ayako who walked in on us..."

"You tricked me"

"...Eh?" Hanamichi asked, then saw Rukawa look at him accusingly.

Hanamichi was standing perfectly well on his own. Oh.

"Eheheh..." Hanamichi laughed sheepishly, "I was only trying to find out ... if you ... still like me..." he explained before his face went all red. My face will permanently stay red if I keep on blushing like this all the time he thought distractedly as he sneaked a peek at the fox-eyed boy.

Rukawa suddenly closed the short distance between himself and the redhead. "So, was the answer what you were looking for?"

Hanamichi, who went breathless caused by the nearness of the dark-haired boy, looked up at Rukawa's eyes in surprise.
"H-Huh? Oh. Hm... I dunno. Kiss me again and let me find out for sure," he grinned as he grabbed Rukawa's waist to pull him closer.

THE END^v^