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**~~~~~~~~~** flashback **~~~~~~~~~~**
//thoughts//
____________________

 "Rukawa! Rukawa! Gooooooo Rukawa! Give a growl, make it mean, stand up and support your team!" Hanamichi performed the toss they'd perfected and they ended the cheer on their knees.

 Music came on through the speakers and the cheerleaders all took up their positions for the half time show. Hanamichi stood in the back row as always because of his height. They began the dance amidst cat calls and laughter at the only boy cheerleader their school had known and Hanamichi ignored them all. He would finish the term! They would NOT scare away the tensai with their rudeness!

 Still, as he ran off of the court and continued to watch the game, Hanamichi gave a soft sigh. //Why do I keep going? Why did I begin in the first place?!//

**~~~~~~~~~begin flashback~~~~~~~~~**

 Hanamichi walked into the new school with his head held high. His pen pal and friend, Haruko, had promised to help him get settled since this was her school too. She had even signed him up for the same club that she was in! She made sure to make him feel welcome.

 "Hana-kun!"

 He looked up and saw a beautiful girl who fit his pen pals description and grinned broadly, "Haruko-chan!" He ran up to her and lifted the girl clear off the ground! "I'm here!"

 "I can see that!" She laughed, "Come on! We're going to be late! All of your classes are with me except for gym so I can show you around today."

 Hanamichi followed, grateful for the companionship and happy to have the company of such a beautiful girl.
 
 

 New kids always recieved a lot of attention in this school. Kids hanging out with Haruko recieved even more and if the new kid who was friends with Haruko happened to have bright red hair, a huge build, and stand over six feet tall. . . Let's just say Hanamichi was ‘Very' welcome.

 The only person who didn't seem to care that a new kid was hanging around Haruko was the one boy she wished would care! He just slept through each class, his fox-like face framed and hidden by shaggy black hair. Hanamichi noticed no one mentioning his error to the boy so it must have happened often.

 "Who is that?" He whispered to Haruko before class started.

 "That's Rukawa Kaede." She sighed dreamily, "Star of the basketball team. He's every girls dream but he never notices any of us."

 "He sleeps a lot."

 "I guess he works a late shift."

 "Ah." Hanamichi nodded and tried to listen to the teacher, but his eyes kept moving back to the sleeping boy.
 

 At lunch time, Haruko wandered over to her brother and the rest of the team with Hanamichi in tow. "Guys! This is my pen pal from central Tokyo! Hanamichi! He's transferred here, isn't that great?!"

 One by one he met the basketball team. They seemed like a nice group, kind of unique but who was he to talk?

 "Where's Rukawa?"

 Hanamichi couldn't misinterpret the hopefull tone in Haruko's voice.

 "Sleeping somewhere."

 "Oh. . . I wanted him to meet Hana-kun."

 "You signed him up to your club right? So he'll meet him at practice."

 Hanamichi's ears perked up, "Practice?"

 "Basketball."

 He turned amazed eyes to Haruko, "You play basket ball?!"
 

 "No!" She giggled, "I'm a cheerleader. Our practice is right after theirs."

 Hanamichi blushed bright, "I. . . uh. . . oh."

 "You didn't know." Akagi smirked. "She conned you into being on the squad so they'd have a boy to help with the throws."

 "I. . . I'll just go um. . . inside, now." Hanamichi nodded and ran and Haruko glarred at her brother.

 "That was mean!"

 "And conning him into cheering was just fine."

 "Well. . ."

 "Haruko. . ."

 "Oh alright, I'll tell him he doesn't have to."

 Akagi watched his sister go and shook his head.

 "She's getting more and more like her brother."

 "WHAT?!"

 "Um. . . in a good way?"
 
 

 Hanamichi found his way to the roof and slumped down once he was through the door. //A cheerleader?! She want's me to be a cheerleader?! I don't want to do that, it's a girls club! But Haruko is counting on me. . .// "I'll do it."

 "Be quite Do'ahou I'm trying to sleep."

 He spun and came face to face with the boy of Haruko's dreams, Rukawa Kaede. "The tensai can speak if he wants."

 "Tensai? Where?"

 "Why you. . . Kitsune!"

 Rukawa blinked and cocked his head to one side. "Kitsune?"
 

 Hanamichi blushed, he hadn't mean to say that out loud! This fox made him nervous, and when he was nervous he talked too much.

 "Kawii."

 "What?!"

 Rukawa's eyes widened. //I didn't say it out loud did I?!//

 "Um. . . so you're on the team."

 "Yeah." he nodded and settled back as he had been before he'd been disturbed.

 "I. . . I'm a cheerleader." As soon as he said it he wished he could take it back.

 The fox eyed boy was very silent and finally Hanamichi cleared his throat. "Um. . . it wasn't my idea."

 "You'll be a good one."

 "Huh?"

 "Hai." He stood and nodded then left quietly.

 Only once he was gone did Hanamichi notice how fast his heart was beating and how tight his fists were clentched. He took a long, steadying breath and thought about the quiet boy with eyes of blue ice.

 //He didn't smile. Not once through the whole conversation.//

 "Rukawa Kaede."

 "Hana-kun?"

 He turned to face Haruko, "Hai?"

 "You don't *have* to be a cheerleader you know. You do know that, right?"

 "Yeah."

 "It was mean of me to. . ."

 "No, it's all right. I want to give it a try."

 "Really?!"

 "Of course! After all I am the Tensai!!"
 
 

 Later, at practice, he was still trying to convince himself.

 //I am the Tensai, I am the Tensai. . .//

 "Do'ahou."

 He stiffened at that voice and slowly faced the owner, "R. . . Rukawa!" He smiled nervously, "What are you doing here? Practice is over. Yours and mine."

 "I want to walk you home."

 "Me?!"

 "Aa." He nodded and turned to the door, "You coming?"
 
 

 The night air was crisp and cool and Hanamichi smiled again as he walked beside Rukawa. He just felt really . . . special, when the kitsune was near. "So do you always walk the new cheerleaders home?"

 "No." He paused and then added, "Only the boys."

 "I'm the only boy cheerleader they've ever had."

 "I know." Rukawa shrugged, "It's a new tradition."

 Hanamichi smiled, "Is it an every day offer?"

 The kitsune paused in his steps and looked at his companion carefully, "Do you want it to be?"

 "I enjoy your company."

 Rukawa begain walking again, "Aa."

 "Why don't you smile?"

 "Why *do* you?"
 

 "Because it feels good."

 "Aa."

 "You don't talk much, do you."

 "No."

 "That's ok, I talk enough for both of us. You want to eat lunch together?"

 "The school roof. Noon."

 Hana smiled, "It's a date!"

 Instead of arguing the point, Rukawa just nodded and that gave Hanamichi a bubbly feeling inside.

 //My first date.//
 
 

 The next morning Hanamichi was throwing cloths all over his room while his mother watched in amusement.

 "What are you looking for?"

 "Something special."

 "Who is she?"

 "Who?"

 "Who ever you want to look special for."

 Hana blushed, "I just. . . wanna look nice today. That's all."

 "Mm Hmm." She shook her head, "The tight blue jeans and white T-shirt."

 "You think?"

 "It's classic."

 He was just finishing his hair when the doorbell rang. "Hana-kun! It's for you!"

 He ran out and grabbed his bag and an apple on the way to the door. "Rukawa!"

 "Ohayo." He nodded with a soft blush, "Want a ride?"

 Hanamichi laughed out loud and stood on the trick pegs behind Rukawa. "Thanks!" He laughed into the wind as they rode to the school building.

 When they stopped, the school was almost empty, they were early for a change. Rukawa parked his bike in the rack and walked beside Hanamichi quietly. A silent presence that made the red head feel secure and cared for. At the door of Hanamichi's classroom, the basketball player pressed his lips against Hanamichi's cheek then walked away before he could react.

 A trembling hand traced the skin those lips had tasted.
 
 

 The first half of the day went by in a haze until noon. As he walked toward the roof though, everything was vividly clear. Painfully so. His heart was pounding in his chest as he opened the door, unsure if Rukawa had been serious about meeting him. . .

 Rukawa sat in the same spot as before, eyes closed and head tilted upwards. He looked so beautiful! Hanamichi was reminded of story book princes and magical kisses. He licked his lips and stepped forward just as a snot bubble broke the mood. With a laugh he popped it and wa tched Rukawa's brilliant eyes open slowly.

 "Ohayo."

 "You came."

 "Of course! It's my first date!" He blasted and then blushed, "I mean. . . oh *that* was smooth."

 The soft sound that caught Hanamichi's ears was like music. Rukawa Kaede was laughing! He had made the silent boy not only smile, but laugh!

    Rukawa leaned against him softly and let his laughter fade into a smile, "I like you Sakuragi."

    "Me too." Hanamichi blushed, "I mean I like you too."

    Face back to the normal, expressionless mask, Rukawa eased his hand over Hanamichi's as if worried about his reaction. When he didn't jerk away, the large, slender hand settled firmly against Hana's and Rukawa blinked down at them, "Hn."

    "Uh. . . so does this. . . I mean do you. . ."

    "Go out with me?"

    "When?"

    "Tommorow, after practice."

    Hanamichi nodded, "Yes."

    Rukawa smiled tentatively.

    "Do you usually date cheerleaders?"

    "Only the male ones."

    "This conversation sounds familiar."

    "Aa."

**~~~~~~~~~end flashback~~~~~~~~~**

    "3 Pointer! And Rukawa Kaede is hot tonight!"

    "Ru! Rukawa! Ru! Ru! Rukawa!"

    Hanamichi smiled and cheered and clapped along with the rest of the crowed. Rukawa was unstoppable! He slam dunked the ball and glanced at Hanamichi, locking their eyes for a brief moment. //Rukawa. He's the reason I keep going at this. To be near him.//

    *BEEP* "And that's the end folks! Rukawa  has brought victory to the home team once again!"

    Hanamichi didn't stick around for the crowd's fawning and congradulations, he rushed to meet Rukawa in the locker room. He wanted to congradulate his fox in -his- way!

    "Hana-kun."

    "You were great out there Rukawa! You make me wish I had taken up basket ball!"

    He shrugged, "I like you just like you are."

    Hanamichi smiled as they walked outside together, "Well what if I told you I loved you?"

    "I'd say I love you too."

    "I love you."

    "Do'ahou."

    "Hey!"

    "Love you too."

    "Better."

    Rukawa pulled him close for a deep kiss and purred, "Mmm, much."
 
 
 

~Owari~