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   "RUKAWA!!! NO!!!"

    Breaks screeched and the slender, black haired boy raised his eyes to his teammate. Those usualy cold eyes filled with frightened acceptance. "Hana. . ." Then it hit. The fragile body was thrown up
over the hood, smashed against the windsheild and roof and then dropped with a sickening wet,
cracking sound to the pavement behind the vehicle.

    "KITSUNE!" Hanamichi ran to his teammate's side and yelled at the gawking motorist, "Call the hospital, we need an ambulance!" His hands shook as he tried to stop the blood from gushing from the wound on the other boy's skull. "Kitsune no baka! How could you get hit by a car! We just made it to the championships! Hn, you call me a do'aho."

    "Y. . . ou are."

    "Kitsune?!"

    "Nn. . . Do'a . . ."

    "No, kitsune! Don't go to sleep! Remember life saving class? You could die!"

    ". . . you. . . actu. . . lly. . . lis. . . n. . . ?"

    "Haha. Funny. Now shut up and stay awake."

    He rasped out what migth have been a chuckle. "s'ok. . . no. . . n. . . t. . . care. . . n. . y. . . way."

    "What are you talking about you dumb fox!? You can't die! I haven't beaten you yet!"

    "Hn. . . you. . . d. . . aho. . ."

    Hanamichi sniffled and wiped away a tear, "Hn, baka. The ambulance is coming."

    ". . . don. . . leav. . . "

    "I won't. What's your phone number? Do you remember? I need to call your parents."

    ". . . n. . . no. . . . par. . . nts. . ."

    "Guardian then."

    ". . . a. . . lone. . ."

    The redhead's eyes shot up as paramedics rushed to fit Rukawa onto a stretcher, "Good job kid
you did just the right thing."

    "I'm riding with you." He climbed in beside them.

    "You family?"

    "Yeah."

    "'K Joe lets go! Mike, I need three CC's. . . oxygen. . . lets keep him awake."

    Hanamichi almost swore, "It's hard enough to keep him awake when he isn't bleeding from his
head!"

    "Well you did it once, do it again."

    "Oi! Fox! Stay awake ok? These guys are gonna help."

    "H. . . hana. . ."

    "Whoa! No talking."

    "Just listen to me ok?"

    Rukawa nodded weakly.

    "It's just like you to get hit by a fucking car just before the championship, but hey, don't worry, the tensai will lead the team to victory!"

    "Hn. . . . d. . . hou. . ."

    The paramedic glarred, "I said no talking!"

    "Kitsune no baka, you never talk to anyone and when we need you to be quiet you refuse to shut up! You are a very annoying person."

    He smiled and Hanamichi smiled back.

    "But you're an ok guy. For a baka fox."

    Another smile, sleepy this time.

    "OI! NO YOU DON'T!!"

    He jerked back awake.

    "You have to stay awake."

    "We're there, move move move!"

    They wheeled Rukawa into emergency and begain opperating immidiately, all Hanamichi could do was watch through the glass as his rival/friend fought for his life. //Don't you die kitsune.//
 
 

    When Rukawa woke up the world was black, "Nn. . ."

    "Kitsune!"

    He felt around for the voice's owner, "Do'ahou?"

    "You're finally awake! Man I thought you were gone! Don't scare me like that again!"

    Still he only saw darkness, the voice came from no where and somewhere in his memory he could draw out a picture of the redhead, but the darkness wouldn't go away. "Hn. . . why are the lights out baka?"

    The voice stopped and Rukawa heard the rasp of a quickly drawn breath. "Rukawa, the lights are all on."

    "I can't see them."

    "Doctor! You just wait Kitsune they'll fix this. . . DOCTOR!!!!"
 
 

    I am sorry Mr. Rukawa, but you recieve severe trauma to your nerve centers in the accident, especially around the optical nerves. They are burnt out."

    Hanamichi was fuming, "What are you saying?!"

    "He's saying I'm blind Do'aho." Rukawa ground out. "How long?"

    "Well. . . forever."

    The sightless eyes widened and Hanamichi felt his heart contract. "No."

    "But basketball. . .!" The redhead started.

    "People with handicaps do extraordinary things." The doctor smiled, "But I don't think basketball is going to be one of them in this case."

    Rukawa's face darkened and his fox eyes narrowed, "I understand."

    "Most would say 'I see'."

    "But I don't. Do I."

    Hanamichi had never felt so helpless. //Kitsune.//

    The doctor stood, "Well then I will take my leave, have your parents. . ."

    "I have no parents, I'll fill them out."

    "This puts a whole new light on things. If you live alone we can't have you returning to that kind of life, there are institutions that. . ."

    "He doesn't live alone." Hanamichi quickly spoke, "He lives with me!"

    "Oh, alright then, I'll go get the release forms."

    When the door shut Rukawa turned his empty gaze toward Hanamichi's voice, "Why did you do that?"

    "You think I would let you be placed in a home for the  handicapped?!"

    Rukawa smiled slightly, "If you hadn't noticed you must be blind and deaf, but I _am_ handicapped."

    "But you can beat it!"

    "Hn. . . Do'aho."

    "I will make sure you play basketball again!"

    Rukawa diverted his gaze and frowned, "Just go home Sakuragi, I'm no good to anyone now."

    "Teme! You think you can just order me to leave? Well You can't! I am going to help you like it or not!"

    "Hn!"

    "Hn!"

    The doctor looked from one to the other, "Anou. . . did I interupt something?"

    "No."

    "YES!"

    "uhuh. . ." He sighed, "Here are the forms." He handed them to Hanamichi, "You can sign for him, he needs to stay here another week or so."

    "I can't affo. . ."

    "Alright."

    "Baka! What are you doing?!"

    Hanamichi smirked, "Paying your bill Kitsune, and as payback, you have to let me help you."

    "Hn! Do'aho."

    The doctor snickered, "Not from where I see it."

<Part 2>
 
 
 

    Akagi did a double take, //Did I just see. . .// "Hanamichi?"

    The redhead straightened and hit his head on a book shelf, "SHIT!"

    "Quiet! This is a library!"

    "Gori, what are you doing here?"

    "Getting a book, what else do you do at a library?" He narrowed his eyes, "And don't call me
Gori, now where have you been! Championships are in a week and you and Rukawa both disapear. What is that book you holding?"

    Hanamichi made a quick grab at it and missed.

    "Hm. . . How The Blind See? What is this?"

    "Rukawa had an accident. I am going to help him, but he won't be in the championship this year."

    "Won't. . . ok, funny, haha, now really, where is Rukawa?"

    "He's in the hospital you Gori! He lost his sight and now I have to help him see without his eyes!"

    "Have you eaten any wierd plants lately?"

    Hanamichi groaned and turned away to grab another couple books.

    "What are those?" Akagi snatched them up, "Brail For Beginners? Living With The Seeing
Impaired?"

    "I told you they're for me and Rukawa."

    "Ok, let's say I buy your story, Rukawa is blind, why would YOU take care of him? You two
fight all the time!"

    "He's my friend."

    "What happened to Hanamichi and who the Hell are you?"

    The red head checked out his books an walked away.

    "Sakuragi! Where are you going?!"

    "The hospital."

    Akagi shook his head and followed, "I'll come along, then when Rukawa isn't there I'll have you
admitted."

    Hanamichi didn't answer as they steped from the elevator and into a sterile white room. Akagi
stood in the doorway, jaw on the floor. There, in the bed, was Rukawa, a thick bandage over his
eyes. "Hanamichi?"

    "Who else kitsune no baka." He teased but Rukawa just smiled. Akagi was feeling dizzy!

    "You're voice is strained, what are you carrying?"

    "Damn fox how do you do that?!"

    "What is it."

    "Books."

    ". . ."

    "I  _DO_ read,  kitsune no baka."

    ". . ."

    "Ok, I borrowed some help manuels from the library."

    "On. . ."

    "Helping the blind to live normal lives."

   "I told you not to bother."

    "I want to know what I'm doing." He went to the bed and fixed the covers, "How are you
feeling?"

    "Blind. Who else is here?"

    "The Gori followed me from the library."

    "Shit."

    "Rukawa?"

    "Hai."

    "What happened?!"

    "Car."

    "Why didn't you tell us?!"

    "Not your problem."

    "What do you mean it's not our problem?! You're on our team!"

    ". . ."

    Hanamichi growled, "He's even more stubourn then before."

    "Is that possible?"

    ". . ."

    "Yes."

    "Just because I'm blind doesn't mean you have to treat me differently. Hanamichi, go HOME!!!!"

    "No."

    "HN!"

    "NO!"

    Akagi stared at the two of them, "Rukawa, we all care about you, why don't you let us help?"

    "I don't need your fucking help. Don't you get it? I'm fine."

    "You don't look fine."

    ". . ."

    "Rukawa."

    "just go away."

    Hanamichi grabbed his hand and sat on his bedside, "No way kitsune."

    Akagi found himself starring again. Hanamichi was so dedicated to this. He was never this driven before. //Guess he really cares about Ru.// "I'll tell the team."

    "No." Rukawa turned back toward his voice, "Don't tell anyone."

    "They deserve to know."

    "What? That I'm useless now? That Rukawa Kadae is a blind nothing? They don't need to know."

    Hanamichi's face got red and Akagi took a step back when he snatched Rukawa up by his collar, "You are NOT a nothing. I don't want to hear you say that again! YOU HEAR ME?!"

    "I'm blind, not deaf."

    The redhead seamed to crumple and his face fell, "Damn your ice fox."

    "Hana. . ."

    "It's ok Gori." Hanamichi smiled saddly and sat down to read one of the books he found, "I'd be upset too."

    "Hanamichi. . . I'm going to get the team."

    He nodded then walked back through the door where Rukawa lay, staring into nothing, icy as ever and twice as cold.

    "You didn't lose your life fox. Just your eyes."

    ". . ."

    "And you aren't going to lose me." He took he other boy's hands again, "Because I am going to stay right here until you realize your worth again."

    "Why do you care?"

    "Because I care about you."

    "You hate me."

    "No kitsune. . . I just love you too much." He stood and walked away, leaving the blind boy speechless behind him.

<Price 3>
 
 
 

    The rest of the team was crowded into the room when Hanamichi had gotten enough control back to return. He pressed through them to Rukawa's bedside. "Kitsune."

    Rukawa's head turned in his direction, "Do'ahou."

    "Are you ok?"

    ". . ."

    "Cause you look like shit."

    A paper fan came down hard on his head.

    "Ow! What'd ya do that for?!"

    "Have a little compassion you dumb ape!"

    Haruko was sobbing softly.

    "What is wrong with you people?!" Hanamichi bellowed loudly, "He's alive isn't he? Itai! Stop with the fan already!"

    Rukawa's lips drew up out of their frown listening to the familiar argument and Sakauragi Hanamichi's loud and amusing protests.

    Unknown to anyone in the room, Hanamichi saw this and smiled slyly, then went back to his arguing.

    Soon the doctor came in with a smile, "Visiting hours are over."

    They all bid their teammate goodbye and filed out quietly, all except Hanamichi.

    "Hana-kun?" Haruko peeked back in, "He said visiting hours are over."

    He walked out into the hall with her and shut the door, "I've stayed before."

    "Don't you want to get some sleep?"

    "I do."

    "Here?!"

    "Yeah, why not? If that kitsune can sleep anywhere so can the tensai!" He grinned and puffed out his chest.

    "You care about him a lot."

    The redhead stopped trying to keep his mask up and slid down against the wall. Haruko sat in front of him. "Haruko-chan, I. . . you're my best friend."

    She smiled and nodded, "Remember when you had a crush on me? Why do you keep that up anyway? We already decided to be just friends."

    Now he smiled too, "To annoy the Gori."

    He laughter made him feel better and she kissed his cheek gently, "You're rotten."

    "Hey!"

    "But you know, rotten fruit makes wine." She whispered impishly.

    Hanamichi glaced back into the hospital room and sighed, "You think Kitsunes like wine?"

    She stopped laughing and her eyes widened in realisation, "You don't just love him, you're 'In' love with him!"

    "I didn't mean to." He bowed his head, "Are you still my friend?"

    Haruko placed her hands on his broad shoulders and he looked up with sad eyes. "You are _my_ best friend too Hana-kun." She smiled, "And I never choose a crush over a friend."

    "Not even Rukawa Kaede?"

    "I think his taste runs more toward wine than women." Standing and dusting off her skirt, she winked, "I'll see you at school. Ja ne."

    "Ja ne Haruko-chan." He stood and watched her go, "Thank you."
 

    Rukawa was silent when he entered the room again. Hanamichi smiled and pulled the covers up around his shoulders.

    "What did she say to you?"

    "Aieeeeeee! Don't do that Kitsune! I thought you were asleep!"

    "What did she say?"

    "That you prefer wine to women."

    ". . .?"

    "It's nothing." He blushed and sat on the side of the bed.

    ". . ."

    Hanamichi touched Rukawa's face softly, "What are you thinking fox?"

    ". . ."

    "I promise not to tell."

    "It's dark in here." Rukawa's expression didn't change but his sightless eyes overflowed with tears he held back his whole life.

    "kitsune."

    A sob escaped him before he could help it, "I was always afraid, of the dark."

    Tears weld in the redhead's eyes and he crushed Rukawa to his chest, "It's ok to cry Kaede."

    "Hana. . ." He broke down, hugging back for all he was worth as his harsh cries filled the room. "Hana-kun!"
 
    "Don't worry fox." He sobbed and nuzzled the dark hair gathered at the nape of Rukawa's neck.

    "So dark." He whispered as his tears wore out and he rested soundlessly against the larger boy.

    "It will be ok. I'll make it ok."

    He sniffled and wiped the tear trails away, "Do'ahou."

    "Ah! Now there's the Rukawa I love." As soon as he said it his eyes widened and he gasped, "I mean I. . . I. . ."

    "How can you say that?"

    "N. . . nani?"

    "That you love me."

    "It's the truth."

    "I'm blind, not stupid."

    "You think I can't love you? It isn't your choice. You might not love me back, but I will love you forever."

    "Liar."

    "I don't lie."

    "No one loves me."

    "Phaa." Hanamichi snorted, "The whole school loves you baka."

    "They lust after me, and respect my skills, but they don't love me."

    "Ha, what skills?" Hanamichi joked, "Still think you're better than the tensai?!"

    "Hn." He smiled weakly, "you're the tensai." he sighed as his eyes closed in exhaustion, "You. . . figure it. . . out."

    "Kitsune no baka."

    Rukawa yawned and currled up against Sakuragi's chest like a lost kitten. His fingers splayed against it's broad expanse.

    "I was afraid of the dark too." the boy whispered, "But then you became my light."

    "mmm."

    "poetic."

    Hanamichi looked up and found himself staring into the eyes of his best friend. "Yohei."

    "How's he doing?"

    "As good as can be expected."

    "How are you?"

    "I don't know."

    "Come again?"

    "The tensai does not repeat. . ."

    "Drop the act Hana, it's me your talking to."

    He visibly deflated and looked down at the sleeping boy curled against him.

    "Have you told him?"
 
    "Yeah."

    "And. . ."
 
    "He said I was lying, that no one loved him."

    "This from Mr Ice."

    "He isn't cold!" Hanamchi yeld and Youhei blink in surprise. "He's just scared."

    "Of what?" Youhei rolled his eyes, "Showing some human emotion?"

    "Of hurting."

    "You're imagining things." He sighed and perched on a nearby chair, "But seeing as I am your best bud I have to go allong with it anyway. Who'd a thought Sakuragi Hanamichi would fall for an icy fox boy."

    Hanamichi laughed softly, "Thanks."

    "You always did love animals."

    The redhead grinned and nuzzled Rukawa's hair, "'specially foxes."

    "Oh?" Youhei feined surprize, "I would have thought rats."
 
    "Rats?"

    "Seeing as you _are_ one an' all. . ."

    Hanamichi growled playfully, "If my hands weren't full I'd. . ."

    "Well maybe I'll get to like Rukawa after all." The other boy grinned.

    "Hn."

<Part 4>
 
 
 

    Rukawa shifted slightly and mumbled something as he started to wake up. He opened his eyes and only darkness was there. He fumbled for the lamp and found it, but when he switched it on, still nothing.

    Hanamichi walked in with coffee for the two of them and found Rukawa sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the lit lamp in front of him, "Kitsune?"

    "It's on?"

    "Yeah." He sighed softly.

    Rukawa kept starring at it.

    "Fox. . ."

    ". . ."

    "Fox that won't help."

    "Hn, do'ahou."

    "Rukawa! Stop it!" Hanamichi set the cups down and grabbed his shoulders, "That won't help."

    ". . ."

    //I guess the heart to heart we had last night was a one time thing.// he thought softly, "I brought you some coffee."

    ". . ."

    "Here." Hanamichi placed the cup in the other boy's hand and Rukawa lifted it to his lips and flinched as some missed his mouth and spilt on him. His grip clentched, crushing the small thing fiercly. "Hold on, I'll get a towl."

    ". . ."

    Hanamichi came back and mopped the other boy clean as best he could. "The doctors said you can go home today."

    "Aa."

    "I told my mom I was staying with a friend so we could work on school stuff together."

    "No."

    "I'm not leaving you alone."

    "Yes you are."

    Hanamichi's face grew red with anger and he shouted at the fox loudly, "You kisune no baka! I love you! I'm not leaving you because of a little thing like this!!"

    "Hn." Rukawa glarred sightlessly, "Some 'little' thing."

    "You. . . you. . . TEME!!! If you'd stop feeling sorry for yourself maybe you could get on with your life! You're not dead! Stop acting like it!"

    ". . ."

    "How the hell do you do it Kitsune." Hanamichi frownd and knelt between the long legs of his companion, taking his hands in his.

    "What?"

    "You make me love you so much I hate you sometimes."

    "Don't love me."

    "Please kitsune, Kaede." Hanamichi pleaded, "I've been refused 50 times by girls I asked out. They were just pretty faces to me and it hurt so bad to have them say no. You were honest with me so I'll be honest with you. I can't loose you. Not to self pity. Please, let me help you. I love you, I don't want you to hurt."

    "Hanamichi. . ."

    "Please."

    He closed his eyes and took a steadying breath, "I. . . I love you too Hana-kun." He hugged the redhead tight and shook with held in pain, "But you don't deserve being trapped by my handicap. You deserve better."

    "There is nothing better than love." Hanamichi assured him for a kiss and the world vanished until people in the hall started clapping. Both boys broke apart and blushed furiously.

    One nurse wiped away a tear and sighed, "You boys are better than my daily soap opera."

    Hanamichi closed the door and went back to his fox, "Thank you."

    "For what?"

    "My first kiss."

    Rukawa nodded and quirked one side of his lips in what could have been a smile, "I plan on giving you your second too."

    "And third?"

    He nodded, "And forth, and fifth, and sixth."

    "We'll have to have a celebration when we reach 100."

    "Aa."

    "Let's start now." He smiled and they embraced again.

    When they broke apart Rukawa was breath in thick gasps.

    "Two." He smiled.

    ". . ."

    His laughter filled the room, "Come on, lets get you home."

    Rukawa frowned and begain to feel around him.

    "Your clothes are at nine O'clock."

    He stoped stiff in his tracks, "How did you . . "

    "You think I borrowed all those books just to annoy you?"

    "You. . ."

    "Yes." Hanamichi grinned broadly, "Me."

    "Thank you."

    The redhead did a double take, "The great Rukawa Kaede saying thank you?! I don;t believe it! Is the sky falling?!"

    "No." He finished dressing and stood faceing the other boy, "I am."

    "Falling. . .?"

    "In love."

    Hanamichi smiled, "Can I fall with you?"

    "Hai."

    "Kitsune. . ."

    "Hm?"

    "Aishiteru."

    Rukawa's unfeeling mask cracked a bit as his eyes lit with emotion, "I love you too Do'ahou." He took Hanamichi's guiding hand and walked through the darkness that had become his world. //But you deserve more than me.//
 
 
 

~tbc~