Rukawa jumped and executed a perfect two pointer. As he landed gracefully on his two feet, collective sighs came from the cheerleading squad. The group of females here in the US were not as fanatic about Rukawa as the the Rukawa Shitenai back at Japan and they were more beautiful and sexier, but still Rukawa ignored them.
A few minutes later, the whistle was heard. The team all gathered together around the coach, each of them sweating and panting from the hours-long practice.
"Alright boys, since you did well this time, I'm going to cut this session short. However, I expect you to be here first thing Monday morning for the jog. Clear?" said the coach.
Murmers of affirmative answers came from the tired team.
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" barked the coach.
"YES COACH!" answered the young men.
"Alright," the coach clapped his hands, "see you at six a.m. sharp."
The team made their way to the showers as they chatted among themselves. When one guy suggested that they spend a relaxing night out together with the cheerleaders, each of them came up with different ideas. One of the players, black-skinned with light brown colour dyed on his short cropped hair turned around to Rukawa and asked, "Hey Rukawa, what do you think we should do? Go shoot some pools or go to the movies?"
"I can't," the Japanese replied, "I have to wish someone a happy birthday."
"What? Heh! It's that girl you keep calling every week, ain't it? Aw, come on! You can call her when we get to the diner. We're gonna stop there before we go anywhere else. Come on! You of all people need to loosen up and get some time off!" the American said pulling the dark-haired japanese player towards the rest of the group who were still arguing on where to go.
Hanamichi humphed again. He placed the magazine back down on the table and switched the television on again for the fourth time that night. After a few minutes, he stood up, leaving the tv on, to go to the kitchen and make himself a cup of tea.
Ten minutes later Hanamichi made his way back to the living room when suddenly the phone rang. He hastily ran towards the it, nearly spilling his tea, and picked it up with a flash.
"Moshi moshi!" Hanamichi answered cheerfully.
After finishing his tea, Hanamichi switched off the tv and went back to the kitchen to wash his cup. That was when he realised that the trash needed to be taken out. He would not have bothered before when he was a teenager but since he has been living together with Rukawa, his habit has changed under the other young man's influence. Sure, he's still untidy but not the impossibly untidy as he was before.
As he crossed the living room with the trash bag in his hand he glanced at the phone and at the clock on the wall. Less than one and half an hour till twelve. Hanamichi sighed again.
"I'm being pathetic here," the redhead grumbled to himself but he was already moving faster once he was outside the door. Reaching the trash can outside took him less than a minute and as he jogged back towards the house he heard the phone ringing from inside. Hanamichi made a run for it.
Hanamichi hurriedly picked the phone up and answered breathlessly, "Moshi moshi" but at that moment the caller chose to hang up.
The red-head slowly put the phone's handle back on it's cradle. Wordlessly, he looked down at his hands and discovered that they were scratched. His knees were protected by his jeans and his elbows by his sweater but he could feel the sting and guessed that they were scratched as well, only slightly. Still, the pain on his body was miniscule to the pain of loneliness he felt within him.
"Damn," he mumbled softly as he turned around, his head hung low, "I wish......." his voice died down as he rubbed at his eyes with his index finger and his thumb.
"What do you wish for?"
Hanamichi looked up and gaped at the person standing under the threshold of the front door.
"Ka-Kaede? I-It's really you?" Hanamichi asked hoarsely in disbelief.
Hanamichi turned back to look at the dark-haired man in the suit and stared at him again. During that time, Rukawa had shut and locked the door closed and set his suitcase down on the floor and the plastic bag he has been holding on the table near the couch. The young man walked up to the the red-head and said again, "It's me" and wrapped his arms around Hanamichi and hugged him.
Still afraid to believe that he was real, Hanamichi slowly raised his arms around the other man and held him hesitantly. When the redhead felt the solidness of Rukawa under his touch, he let out a relieved sigh and clutched his partner tighter.
"You're here... you're here..." Hanamichi sighed, his face craddled at the crook of Rukawa's neck.
The brunette replied by holding Hanamichi tighter as he closed his eyes, basking in Hanamichi's warmth before he pulled away to look at the redhead's face. To his surprise, the brown eyes in front of him were shining with unshed tears.
Hanamichi, feeling embarrassed, chuckled. "Shit! I'm a mess!"
"What happened," Rukawa questioned, holding Hanamichi's hands, palm up.
"Ah, 'was nothing. Damn walkway's fault," Hanamichi said looking at his scratched palms.
"Looks like you were careless to me," commented Rukawa.
Hanamichi bristled. "The Tensai is not a clutz!"
Rukawa snorted and released his lover's hands before walking towards the kitchen. He came back later with a cool wet towel and motioned for Hanamichi to sit down. Then he took the red-head's hands again and patted the scratched palms gently as he blew at them slowly. Hanamichi stayed silent as he looked down at the dark head of his lover in front of him, joy flooding his mind.
After Rukawa was done, he set down the towel and cupped Hanamichi's face in both hands and kissed him gently. Hanamichi responded by wrapping his arms again around Rukawa and kissing him back with overwhelming intensity. The feeling of Rukawa's warm lips triggered the redhead's memory of the past when they had made love countless times before the kitsune moved to the US to pursue his life-long dream to be the best. It was their first kiss in more than one year apart and it was so heartfelt and so touching that Hanamichi felt like crying for real this time.
Rukawa reluctantly broke their reunion and after caressing the other young man's cheek he turned around and picked up the plastic bag he had placed on the table. "Stay here," he told Hanamichi before he walked back to the kitchen with the plastic bag in hand. Two minutes later he walked back into the living room with a tray and on it was a one pound cheesecake and a dark green bottle of wine placed besides two wine glasses.
Rukawa set the tray down in front of the madly grinning birthday boy and proceeded to dim the lights before the he lit the one candle in the middle of the cake. He then took a seat beside Hanamichi on the couch and winded one arm around the red-head's shoulder. With his free hand he picked up the knife he also brought from the kitchen and placed it on the red-head's hands.
Close your eyes. Make a wish. And blow out the candlelight. For tonight is just your night. We're gonna celebrate, all thru the night
Hanamichi looked at Rukawa, happiness threatening to burst from the fullness in his heart. His lover rarely gives a show of anything of a romantic nature but when he does it never failed to awe Hanamichi in such a way only his fox-eyed lover can do. He gave Rukawa a warm and loving smile before turning his attention back to the cake. He closed his eyes and after a few moments opened them before giving the lit candle a quick blow. As Hanamichi was busy cutting the cake, Rukawa stood up and started to light the fireplace in the living room. After he was done Hanamichi was already stuffing his mouth with a piece of the confection.
"Cake?" Hanamichi asked with his mouth full. Rukawa was amused and gave a small smile, only those closest to him can detect, and shook his head. "Later," he answered. He then took out a small box fom his suit and opened it, showing the item inside to the red-head. Hanamichi gulped down the remaining cake in his mouth as he looked at it in wonder. It was a ring.
"Happy birthday," Rukawa said softly as he clasped Hanamichi's hand in his. The redhead was still staring at the accessory on his finger when he suddenly realised that Rukawa was wearing an identical piece. It was a simple silver band but the gold plated linings on both sides of the rim made the simplicity look elegant.
Rukawa gently turned Hanamichi's face towards him and kissed the redhead again, tasting the cheesecake and his lover at the same time. This time Hanamichi was quick to respond, closing his eyes and opened his mouth letting Rukawa's tongue in to caress his. They kissed for a long time, lips meshed together and their tongues twining with each other as their heated breaths mingled in the moment. When they stopped for air, they were still very close, leaning at each other forehead to forehead. Rukawa's warm breath fanned Hanamichi's face as the brunette panted lightly and said, "I love you."
Your wish is my command. I submit to your demands. I'll do anything, you need only ask.
Hanamichi tilted his face and captured Rukawa's mouth and kissed him passionately, murmuring to the brunette that yes, he loved him too. They continued that way until both of them were shaking from their love, their need and their lust. Not being able to stand it any longer, Hanamichi pulled back from their kiss and whispered something in Rukawa's ear. The dark-haired man's flushed face became more flushed as he listened. After he was done, Hanamichi leaned back to looked at his lover with a mischevious grin. Rukawa kissed Hanamichi once on the lips and looked at the redhead through half-lidded eyes, his voice husky, "Yes."
I'll make love to you. Like you ask me to. And I'll hold you tight. Baby all through the night. I'll make love to you. When you want me to. And I will not let go. Till you tell me to
Rukawa pulled Hanamichi hurriedly with him to the bedroom. As soon as they reached the bed, Hanamichi suddenly pushed Rukawa down onto the covers, and started to kiss him hungrily. Rukawa moaned in the kiss but he then realised that hurrying the moment would not be as pleasurable as taking it easy so he pushed the redhead off of him before rolling on top of his lover, quickly pinning the redhead's arms above his head. Ignoring Hanamichi's vocal protests he started to kiss the redhead all over his face and neck, purposefully avoiding the swollen parted lips. Gently nibbling on the redhead's ear Rukawa whispered, "Easy."
Just relax, let's go slow. I ain't got nowhere to go. I'm just gonna concentrate on you. Are you ready? It's gonna be a long night.
Rukawa released the redhead before pushing himself up to sit on the bed. Slowly, he took of his coat, letting it fall behind him, before he began to take off his tie. He was later in the process of unbuttoning his shirt when he looked at his lover with heated eyes, telling the redhead without words what he wanted him to do.
Throw your clothes on the floor. I'm gonna take my clothes off too. I made plans to be with you. Whatever you ask me you know I'll do
Hanamichi followed Rukawa's act in shedding their clothes one by one. It was a pleasure for both of them to see that neither has changed since their last meeting, although Rukawa seemed to have acquired more muscles than before due to his extensive workout in the US.
When they were done with their tantalizing strip act, Rukawa pushed Hanamichi back down on the bed and started to kiss his way from the redhead's chest slowly to his neck and when he ended on the chin he told Hanamichi again, "Happy birthday, ittoshi."
As the two joined, Hanamichi grabbed Rukawa tightly against him and gasped, "Don't let go."
Even in the midst of passion, Rukawa's fingers were reverent as they brushed the tears slipping across the redhead's cheek. "I won't."
Baby tonight is your night. And I will do you right. Just make a wish on your night. Anything that you ask. I will give you the love of your life.
In the living room, the fire in the fireplace burned down slowly as the wood became coal and the coal became ashes, but the fire ignited by the couple in the bedroom burned in intense heat all through the night. And as promised Rukawa did not let Hanamichi go.
Monday.
"Hey, Ru! Where did you go, man?" asked one of the players, a tall blond guy with light green eyes, "We tried callin' you yesterday and but you weren't in your apartment the whole day".
"I was with someone," Rukawa told him simply.
"Really?" The american player grinned, giving Rukawa a knowing look. "You dog, you. Boy. Won't half of the cheerleading squad be disappointed!"
Rukawa finished tying his shoelace and as he was about to close his locker door, his eyes were riveted to the shining metal around his finger. A flicker of warmth crossed in his eyes when suddenly a whistle sounded.
"Alright people! Haul ass! We got 50 laps to do!" yelled the coach. Rukawa shut his locker firmly shut and followed his team-mates out.
~THE END
The song used in this fic is Boys II Men's 'I'll Make Love To You'.
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As he waited for the water to boil, he checked his watch and sighed, feeling depressed. It's two more hours to midnight and still that fox hasn't called yet! He promised that he's gonna call every week. Especially since its my birthday today!
Then his smile disappeared as he said, "I'm sorry. You've got the wrong number. Yah, that's ok." And with that he hung up, a disappointed expression on his face.
Then he thought worriedly, Maybe he would call when I'm out taking the trash and I couldn't hear it. Then he would hang up! - Maybe I should take out the trash later...
After debating with himself for five minutes he decided to just make a run out of the house and then dash back inside.
Suddenly he tripped on a crack on the walkway and hit the ground hard. He quickly scrambled up, ignoring the sore pain on his hands, elbows and knees and ran up through the door, leaving the front door wide open, and into the living room.
Maybe I'm being delusional. It can't be true. He's in the US. He's gonna call me any minute now...he started rambling in his mind as he looked at the phone expecting it to ring when the image in front of him answered, "Of course, it's me, do'aho."
The redhead raised his hands to brush back his tousled red hair when suddenly Rukawa stopped him.
As Hanamichi stared at the small piece of jewellery, Rukawa took the ring out of its box and slipped it around the redhead's left middle finger.
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