C&C is music to the writer's soul

<Part 1>
 

  Hanamichi refused to believe what he had seen with his own eyes, heard with his own ears. The fox was leaving the team. Giving up basketball. He told the coach that this was his final year. //He can't quit! He loves the game! Needs it! Like air! Damn it he can't leave until I've beaten him!//

    When practice was over for the day, Rukawa left without even changing clothes. Why the rush? What was going on?! //Why?//

    The red head stepped in front of his team mate with a firm resolve. "Rukawa."

    Those cool fox shapped eyes looked at him with a flicker of true emotion before it was gone. "Sakuragi."

    "What do you think you're doing Kitsune?!"

    "Walking."

    "Why are you quitting?! You never give up!"

    "That's why I'm quitting."

    "I don't understand."

    "Do'ahou." He began to walk away.

    "Oh No you don't! Not this time! You aren't just going to blow me off! What's going on Rukawa!?"

    "Life."

    "Huh?"

    Without answering, Rukawa climbed onto his bike and rode away. Hanamichi waited a split second before following. No way was the kitsune going to get away that easily! He wanted some answers!

    They black haired boy parked his bike outside of a gay bar and walked inside. Hanamichi could only stare! //This is why he's quitting? He realised he's gay? What reason is that?!//

    Steeling himself to tell the baka kitsune just that, he strode inside.

    The room was loud and full of smoke and the smell of liquer, but it was clean and pleasant just the same. A stage and runway along the back wall jutted out into the table filled floor and on it a man slowly rocked to the music in nothing but a very small thong. The student blushed bright as his hair and set out to find Rukawa.

    As the music finished the men inside howled and cheered as the stripper gathered his clothing and money then blew a kiss.

    "And now the one you're all here to see. The man with cat like grace and a face to cum for. Kitsune!"

    Hanamichi stared at the PA then the stage and his heart sped up so fast he was afraid it would burst! //I don't believe it!//

    Then the music started and he forgot whatever thought he was going to have.
________________

    Rukawa stealed himself for the hardest show of his life. He watched Sakei finish his dance and paled as his team mate walked into the door. //I knew he couldn't leave it alone. Damn it! There's no way I can finish the season now that he knows.//

    "Kaede? Man you look like you just saw a ghost." Rui said from his spot by the stage.

    The boy fixed his mask in place and turned to face his friend. "Hana-kun is here."

    "THE Hana-kun?!"

    The fox eyed boy looked away. Here everyone had their secrets and no one would fault you for them. It had taken time but all of the dancers were close friends, even him. They knew him like no one did. And they knew about his hopeless attraction to his red headed peer. "He wasn't supposed to know."

    Rui shook his head and gave the boy a slight kiss. "'kawa, you're good at this. You're better than good. Believe me. When you go out there, you have the power. This isn't basketball, no team, just you, and he's going to be just as hard as everyone else."

    "I don't. . ."

    Just then the PA began his call.

    "Go on. You can do this."

    Rukawa swallowed and nodded, eyes cool and ready. "Thank you."

    "Hey it got me a kiss." He laughed and settled in to watch.
_______________

    Hanamichi's eyes threatened to pop out of his head. //Kitsune!//

    Rukawa's hips pumped and gyrated to the music 'Sweet Dreams' by the Eurithmics, and the red head blushed even deeper as he responded to it. He gasped and tried to cover the obvious arousal in his shorts. When he looked up Rukawa's hands were trailing over now exposed nipples. His eyes were almost closed but still trapped his team mate and his mouth opened softly to draw in a finger.

    "Oh God." The student groaned and shuddered, this wasn't the Rukawa he knew, this was his kitsune. The anger and passion just below the cool surface he showed to everyone. And this was reeeeeaaaaaally making him hot!

    //Rukawa what is going on?!//
 

<Part 2>

    The guys had always told him, imagine when you dance that you're dancing just for a certain person. Someone you 'live' for. Do that and you'll be sex on stage. You'll be the best! Rukawa hadn't understood until he dance in front of Hanamichi. Now though, his whole world and being narrowed to the redhead and suddenly he wasn't just stripping. He was being made love to by chocolate brown eyes.

    It was a rush! Rukawa felt in control of his world, his destany, like he knew exactly what he could accomplish just by watching his secret love reacting to him. He thrust his hips and thrilled at Hanamichi's shiver. This was what it was supposed to be. What they were supposed to be.
________________

    Rui watched from backstage gratefull as Hell that he'd choosen to go for the cock ring that night. If he'd decided against it, he'd be royally embarrased when he went out to dance next! Rukawa was. . . he was solid molten sex is what he was!

    "Oh Gods!" Sakei leaned against the wall beside Rui and fanned himself with his slim hand, "Kawa is HOT tonight! What happened? He went from Ice man to Sun God!"

    "Look out into the audiance."

    Sakei leaned out slightly, "Uh huh, so what am I looking for?"
 
    "Minor, flaming hair, raging hard on that he's trying real hard to hide."

    "The one doing a full body blush?"

    "That's him."

    "So who is he?"

    "That's Hana-kun."

    "THE Hana-kun?!"

    Rui snickered, "That's what I said."

    "But Kawa didn't. . . He didn't spill did he."

    Rui held back laughter.

    "Ok, but choice of words. I mean he didn't tell them did he?!"

    "No, the kid followed him in tonight after his practice."

    "Why?" Sakei watch Rukawa worriedly, "I mean, he's still playing?!"

    "Guess he told the team today that he was quitting."

    "He said why?"

    "NO! And we are saying either. It's Kawa's to tell."

    "Dude! Chill! You think I'm that calous and shallow?"

    "It's just, most cases like this the guys deserve it! I mean they do something to. . . but Kawa hasn't even. . . he was just in the wrong place. You know? Just bad luck."

    "Yeah. I know what you mean."

    "He had so much going for him too. You hear they were scouting him for America? The NBA?"

    "No kidding?!"

    "Yeah, but he wouldn't go now. Not now that he knows. . ."

    "It isn't fair."

    "That's life."

    "That sucks."

    "Tell me about it."

    "So what about Hana-kun?"

    "He's gotta stay away from him. Kawa wouldn't risk him."

    "That's just sad! I mean he loves the guy so much!"

    "That's why he's staying away."

    "He should tell him."

    "He will. Some time."

    "Time isn't something a guy like him can waste."

    "Yeah well. . . we'll give a little push if we need to."

    "How little a push will get through to 'those' two?!"

    "Steamroller?"

    "Maybe."

    Rukawa stepped off stage with clothes in hand and nodded at the two of them before going to get dressed again.

    "No second dances?"
 
    "Not tonight."

    "Hana-kun?"

    "Yeah."

    "Goodluck."

    "Yeah."

    Sakei and Rui shared a look. "Steamroller."
________________

    Rukawa slid fluidly through the crowd to Hanamichi. "Let's go."

    "Rukawa what are you. . .?!"

    "Not here. Lets go."

    The redhead followed him outside and planted his heels at the post Rukawa'd locked his bike to. "What's going on Rukawa?"

    "I got a job."

    "Stripping?! In a fucking GAY BAR?!!"

    "The money is good."

    "What do you need money for? You have a scholarship!"

    "I'm quitting basketball. I told you that."

    "Well you Can't quit. I didn't quit when I hurt my back! You can't quit for no reason."

    "I have a reason."

    "So you're gay. So what?!"

    "It isn't that. I've known I was Bi since I was fourteen."

    "Then what's going on?!"

    "It's nothing."

    "Nothing wouldn't stop Rukawa Kaede from playing ball! It's your life!"

    "Not anymore."

    "But why? What happened?!"

    Rukawa raised his eyes to meet Hanamichi's and held his gaze for a moment, "Things change."

    "Not that! Not you!"

    "Yeah. I do."

    "I don't GET this! What made you give up like this?!"

    "I found out why I sleep so much."

    "So your narcleptic."

    "I am not narcleptic."

    "Well then what's wrong."

    "Nothing." He mounted his bike and rode away.

    "RUKAWA!!! KITSUNE NO TEME!!!"

    "He's scared."

    Hanamichi turned and blushed bright red. It was the dancer from before Rukawa came on stage. "Uh. . ."

    "Sakei."

    "Hanamichi."

    "Yeah. We know. Your famous around here."

    He blushed, "I am the Tensai of basketball! Of course you've heard of me!"

    Sakei laughed, "You're known for. . . other things around here."

    "Oh?"

    "You a freind of Kawa's?"
 
    "Not really." He paused a moment, "What did you mean? He's scared."

    "Something happened. He's running from everyone he cares about. You especially."

    "He cares about me?"

    "Why do you think you're known here? He comes in every night with a new incident to talk of. He's really taken by you."

    "ME?!"

    "Don't break his heart ok?"

    "But I'm not. . .! I don't. . .!"

    "Just give it a thought."

    "I. . ."

    "Trust me." Sakei winked and sauntered back inside.

    "Wait! Why is he running?!"

    But the stripper was already gone, and Hanamichi only had more questions for their conversation.
 
 
 

~tbc~