A pair of sharp brown eyes looked back at the icy blue ones. The redhead's focus seemed to be directed to those eyes only but in actuality the redhead's vision encompassed more than that; from the tiniest flex of muscles to the tenseness of the stance. He stood in front of his opponent, assessing the other boy's movements while keeping himself in motion for any sudden movements as he blocked his rival from reaching the basket.

Suddenly the dark-haired boy faked a quick left and then made a quicker right turn, surprising the redhead at the unexpected movement. The dark-haired boy then made a dash for his goal, the other boy at his heels. Behind the brunette, the redhead desperately tried to catch up, his exhaustion overcoming him. Suddenly the redhead tripped, his feet already weak, and he tumbled, hands flailing. However, at the last minute, the redhead managed to grasp the back of the brunette's shirt which sent both of them tumbling on the hard ground, with the redhead on top. A moment later, the two boys just lay there, dazed, panting quickly because of long hours of playing basketball. The redhead was first to snap out of his disorientation and looking down at the other boy, he grinned and bent down to place a kiss.

Rukawa quickly pushed Hanamichi roughly off of him and sat up. "Not here, do'aho," the boy said coldly. Hanamichi snorted and rolled his eyes feigning exasperation but inside he felt hurt. Rukawa stood up and picked up the ball before turning back to the redhead. "C'mon, let's continue."
The redhead scowled but stood up as well getting ready for another bout of basketball.

It could all be so simple
But you'd rather make it hard
Loving you is like a battle
And we both end up in scars
Tell me, who I have to be
To get some reciprocity
No one loves you more than me
And no one ever will

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

A lean, naked body quietly slipped out of the covers, trying not to wake up his partner. He quickly put on his sweatshirt and shorts before walking out of the room, taking his gym bag on the way out.
A few moments later, the boy on the bed stirred and his hand blindly searched for the one who he had spent a passionate and loving night with. Feeling only empty blankets in his hold, he opened his eyes and to his disappointment he saw that he was alone. He grabbed the pillow Rukawa had slept on and hugged it tight, inhaling his lover's scent before he sighed and tried to get back to sleep.

Is this just a silly game
That forces you to act this way
Forces you to scream my name
Then pretend that you can't stay
Tell me, who I have to be
To get some reciprocity
No one loves you more than me
And no one ever will

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

Hanamichi whistled his tensai tune as he walked leisurely to the court where he knew Rukawa would be practicing. He and Rukawa had planned to spend a quiet night together at the boy's house, just watching a few movies, have some popcorn and, of course, doing some cuddling. As he rounded the corner he bumped into a person he had not expected to meet.

"Sendoh? What are you doing here?" asked Hanamichi. The Ryonan player looked exhausted, but he still managed to put on that usual cheerful smile on his face.

"Just been having a one-on-one with Rukawa. He's in a better shape than before," replied the other boy.

"But you still beat him, right?" Hanamichi grinned, nudging the Ryonan player with his elbow. Sendoh just laughed.

"So you're going to challenge him now that he's weak?" teased Sendoh.

"Hey, I can beat that fox in his best!" protested Hanamichi, "I'm the Tensai!"

"Of course, of course!" Sendoh laughed, trying to soothe the redhead.
"Ne, Sakuragi, gotta go now," the Ryonan player then said, "Ja ne!"

Hanamichi acknowledged the boy's departure with just a lift of his head before he continued his way to the court. Reaching his destination he saw that Rukawa was sitting down on the ground, legs out-streched and his head bowed as he took great gulps of air. Hanamichi hunched down and tried to take a look at the other boys face which was covered by a curtain of wet dark hair.

"Hey, Kaede..."

"I lost."

Hanamichi looked at the boy in puzzlement. "Huh?"

"I said I lost!" snarled Rukawa, "I practice every day, everytime and still I lost to that... that... SENDOH!"

"Hey, c'mon, you look worn out. Let's go back to your place. I'll help you train tomorrow morning and next time you meet Sendoh you'll win this time for sure..." said Hanamichi placing his hand on Rukawa's arm.

Rukawa rudely shrugged Hanamichi's hand away and stood up.
"No. If I want to beat Sendoh, or anyone, I need to keep working on my faults. Then I can be the best," he turned away as he continued, "Just go on first. You can sleep over tonight but you don't have to wait up for me."

"But..." Hanamichi tried to protest but Rukawa was already grabbing the ball, dribbling it along and already seemingly oblivious of Hanamichi's presence. The redhead frowned before saying to the boy coldly, "I think I'll just go back to my own house. No reason staying at your place alone."

"Fine," said Rukawa distractedly.

Hanamichi turned around and walked away, disappointment and anger etched on his face. "Fine," he muttered bitterly.

No matter how I think we grow
You always seem to let me know
It ain't workin'
It ain't workin'

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

The two friends sat together near the window, eating their food, occasionally fooling around and joking as best friends should. There were only a few people at Danny's and they all sat far away from the two. Then the taller one happpened to glance out of the window to see a familiar dark-haired boy cycling by with his gym bag on his back. Yohei took a look at his best friend's sombre face and shook his head.

"I can't see why you're all so hung up over this guy. He clearly doesn't care for you enough. All he ever thinks about is basketball, " said Yohei, resting his chin on his hand.

"He does care!" defended Hanamichi, his cheeks feeling warm.

"Oh yeah, when was the last time he ever shows how much he cares for you?" demanded Yohei.

Hanamichi this time really did blush. "As if I'd ever tell you!"

Yohei rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Not that kind of care, baka! The kind of care like holding hands or just talking and sharing your feelings."

Hanamichi thought hard. Yohei waited boredly for the now-quiet boy's answer when a young girl in a flower printed dress and long straight black hair came walking up to them.

"Mito-kun!" said the girl cheerfully looping her arm around the surprised boy shoulder.

"Aya-chan!" exclaimed the boy, a big smile on his face, "I haven't seen you in a long time!"

"That's what you get for not visiting us for nearly two years, baka!" scolded the girl, punching the boy playfully.

Yohei pretended to be in pain as the girl laughed. Hanamichi looked at their play in interest, especially at the girl. Aya-chan? As in the little Aya-chan? Yohei's cute little cousin? She's still cute but she's not as little when he last saw her. No wait - definitely cuter than when he last saw her.

"We're moving here because dad got transferred to a factory near this district. Looks like we'll be seeing more of each other then, eh, Mito-kun?" grinned the girl.

Aya then turned around to see Hanamichi and she suddenly squealed in delight, "Hana-kun! I haven't seen you for a long time!" To the redhead's surprise she went up to him and gave him a big hug. She stepped back blushing when Yohei chuckled.
"It's great to see you again, Hana-kun," she said, smiling and still blushing prettily.

"Ne, Aya-chan, you've all grown up since I last saw you. I missed you," said Yohei fondly, "how's auntie?"

"Oh, she's fine. She's got a bunch of new friends since we moved here. Ne, Hana-kun, did you miss me too?" asked Aya turning to the redhead.

Hanamichi felt himself going red on the face again.
"Umm.. y-yeah..." the redhead managed.

Aya gave a cute giggle before she patted the two boys on their shoulders. "Ok, I got to go now. My friends are waiting for me outside. Ja ne!"
But before she got farther than a feet away from the table she stopped and walked back to Hanamichi and bending down near him she asked, "Hana-kun, can I call you sometime? We need to do some catching up, y'know."

"S-sure," stammered Hanamichi trying to give out his usual big hearty laugh but failing as the girl's face hovered beside his very closely. Aya gave a bright smile before she waved at them again, joining her friends outside the diner.

As soon as Aya and his friends were out of sight, Yohei laughed. "Looks like she still has that crush on you, Hanamichi."

"She had a crush on me?" Hanamichi asked in surprise.

"And as I've said before, she still has," grinned Yohei. "Why, are you interested, Hana-kun?" he teased.

"Shut up," the redhead warned, getting back to his food.

Hanamichi was about to settle down to sleep when he heard the door bell ring. "Damn, who could be up at this hour?" he cursed, slipping into a pair of long shorts and going down the stairs, quickly and quietly as he could.

Opening the door he was surprised to see Rukawa standing outside the door looking pale under the white door lamp. "Come on in," Hanamichi said. It had been a while that he spent some time with Rukawa. At school they had only their usual petty fights or just talked for a few minutes when they were alone. Hanamichi could not even remember which day it was he last slept over at Rukawa's house, just lying together in bed waiting for the kitsune to sleep off his tiredness from practicing.

Rukawa shook his head. "No, I'll only be just a minute. I need to wake up early tomorrow morning."

Hanamichi stepped out, slightly chilled by the night air. "What brings you here?" he asked. Rukawa just sat down on the front steps his face in his hands. After a moment's thought, Hanamichi also sat down, taking a seat beside the dark-haired boy

"Just to see you," his tired voice muffled as he rubbed at his face. Hanamichi stayed silent waiting for the boy to keep talking as he found nothing to say to him. Suddenly Rukawa turned around and wound his arms around Hanamichi, hugging him tight. The redhead was surprised at the sudden action but returned the embrace with the same intensity, even if he was puzzled at the other boy's behaviour.

"I missed you," Rukawa mumbled at his neck. "And I'm so tired," he sighed.

Hanamichi caressed the boy's back gently, still holding Rukawa close to him.

Suddenly from inside the house, Hanamichi heard his mother calling out to him. The two broke away just as Mrs. Sakuragi appeared on the doorway.

"Rukawa-kun, Hanamichi, what are you two doing out here?" she asked, "Come inside right now"

Rukawa stood up and bowed respectfully to the mother of his lover. "It's alright Mrs. Sakuragi. I just came to say hi to Hanamichi. I need to go back home now. I'm sorry to disturb your rest."

"Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay for a while?" Mrs. Sakuragi asked concerned at seeing the tiredness on the boy's face.

"No, it is getting late. Oyasumi nasai," Rukawa said bowing again before walking off. Hanamichi looked at the boy's retreating figure before he entered the house slowly, his mother following his weary movement with silent worry. Mrs. Sakuragi have already decided not to pry into his son's affairs but to wait until he decides to open up his problems to her. With that she shut the door, locked it and went upstairs back to bed.

And when I try to walk away
You'd hurt yourself to make me stay
This is crazy
This is crazy

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

It was high noon and still Rukawa has not called. Hanamichi gave up waiting and was about to grab his jacket to see if the kitsune was still at the usual basketball court when suddenly the phone rang. He quickly picked it up but instead of hearing the low baritone of his lover, a sweet feminine voice asked for him.

"Aya-chan?" Hanamichi asked surprised.

"Hana-kun!" the girl on the other end of the line answered happily, "I'm sorry I didn't call sooner, but with all this settling down stuff to do I didn't have the time."

"Ahahah! That's ok, Aya-chan," laughed Hanamichi influenced by the girl's cheerful mood. They started to chat on a lot of things, what he or she has been doing, what they plan to do over the weekend etc. Suddenly Aya said, "Hana-kun, are you busy right now? I need someone to accompany me to the store to buy some groceries for mother."

"Well," Hanamichi thought for a while. Deciding to spend some time with one of his old childhood playmates rather than go looking for Rukawa all afternoon, he finally said, "No, I'm free right now. I'll come pick you up, ok?"

"Excellent," the girl exclaimed.

Hanamichi hung up and he grabbed his jacket as he walked out to the door. When he was already far away from the house, the phone rang. It kept on ringing for less than a minute before it quietened. Then it rang again.

Rukawa put down the phone after a few tries. Shrugging, he went to take a shower to get cleaned up before taking his afternoon nap.

Hanamichi sat down on the ground, panting heavily. The other boy was still moving around dribbling his ball and practicing his fake turns and jumps.

"Rukawa! Time out!" gasped the redhead, "I'm too tired to continue!"

The boy did not ease his movements but walked up to his partner, still dribbling the ball. "You just go on to my place and take a rest. I'll be there soon."

"Yah yah..." managed Hanamichi still panting as he stood up.

"Hanamichi, don't..."

"...wait up for you. Yea, yea I know," said Hanamichi walking tiredly away. Although their conversation seemed to imply close understanding and care between two people, Hanamichi could not help but feel that their relationship has become distant in each passing day.

It had been more than a week since that day on the courts out with Hanamichi. Rukawa knew that he has always depended upon Hanamichi's effort for them to spend some time together even if it was just the two of them playing a game of basketball. But lately, Hanamichi has not sought him out much. Cycling back from school he nearly collided into a parked car, not because that he was dozing off to sleep, but that he was distracted by the sight of Hanamichi walking side by side with a very pretty girl on the street.

Rukawa stopped his bike and looked at the pair crossing the street, the girl's arm looped around the redhead's. The two, unconcious of the stare from a certain blue-eyed boy, continued walking as they chatted and laughed along the way.

Hanamichi reached the basketball court in a hurry. Rukawa was already practicing his shots, not turning around when he heard the redhead approach him.

"Hey, sorry I'm late. I've got to help a friend of mine get acquainted with the neighbour hood. So how many rounds shall we go?" Hanamichi asked shrugging off his jacket.

"I'm practicing alone," Rukawa said tonelessly.

"What?"

"I said I want to practice alone," he repeated still not turning around to look at the redhead.

Hanamichi's felt himself getting angry. "What are you talking about?!" he demanded, "I always practice with you!"

"Then you don't have to today," the dark-haired boy told him.

Hanamichi's anger suddenly flared. "This is getting crazy Rukawa! I hardly ever see you! I always try to find the time to get together with you and when I do you don't want to! You, me... US! This ain't working!"

Rukawa caught the ball that fell through the hoop smoothly and said, "Then I think we should break up."

Rukawa thought he felt Hanamichi stiffen through the tone of the redhead's voice, "Then I think we should," before he heard Hanamichi stomp away.

Rukawa continued to throw the ball to the hoop as if nothing has happened. However a few seconds later, his shoulders lost its tenseness and they slumped down, letting the ball bounce away after it fell from his lax hands.

Hanamichi was rummaging his closet for his basketball jersey when he realised that he has left it at the kitsune's house. He did not want to go there, but since he thought Rukawa would still be practising outside as usual, He figured that could just go in there, get his jersey and go out quickly before the other boy comes back. He walked quickly towards Rukawa's house and taking out the spare key Rukawa gave him he went towards the door to open it. Suprisingly, it was not locked and he cautiously stepped in, afraid that a burglar might be inside. He was not expecting however to see a figure sitting at the hallway near the entrance, feet pulled up to the chest and arms hugging the knees.

"Rukawa?"

The figure's head snapped up and Hanamichi was amazed to see tears falling from the kitsune's pale face.

"Rukawa?" Hanamichi tried again, walking towards the other boy slowly. As soon as he was near, Rukawa jumped at Hanamichi, holding him tightly in his arms as if he was afraid Hanamichi would disappear.

Then the brunette started kissing Hanamichi on the lips and all over the redhead's face in a feverish manner while saying, "Please don't leave me, please don't leave, please...." his tears still wetting his fair skin.

Hanamichi caught Rukawa face with both his hands and gave him a firm kiss, "No, I promise I won't."
Then he pulled Rukawa close to his chest, soothing the boy with promises and kisses as he rocked both of them gently until the dark-haired boy's tears stopped flowing.

I keep letting you back in
How can I explain myself
As painful as this thing has been
I just can't be with no one else

An hour later, Rukawa dozed off in Hanamichi's arms. Hanamichi looked at the boy whose lashes were still wet with tears and kissed him softly on the forehead. I know you are not the best person to have a relationship with. Shit, you always hurt me it's so painful. But I guess....I guess I just can't be with no one else . Carefully the redhead picked Rukawa up and proceeded to carry him to the bedroom.

Care for me, care for me
I know you care for me

There for me, there for me
Said you'd be there for me

Cry for me, cry for me
You said you'd die for me

Give to me, give to me
Why won't you live for me.

************
THE END