Wish 1

Chapter 1

Tokyo .

It was a great city of steel and cement, arguably the largest in the world. It had with it, its high rise buildings, its numerous bridges, its own tower and most of all, it held the promise of the wonderful things about present civilization. In between buildings, on this late afternoon, workers walked briskly to go on back to their homes as jobs had just been terminated for the day. In the sea of people though, one stood still, looking on blankly ahead of him.

How much years had gone by perhaps. Back here in this country where he was born. Here he was, the homecoming prodigal son who had found no future in his precious America . No dream, no promise kept. All shattered as reality came down in a furious whisper. And he was nowhere - he had arrived at nothing, finding himself the same hollow being he used to be and will always be. And he could do nothing but feel the sorrow from the crowd - the simple fact that as he stood motionless while the animated people passed by him, he felt more alone than ever.

This was his world...

***

Yokaze University was a large school that was located on the outskirts of Tokyo . It was large, spacious with its famous gardens and architectural white washed buildings. Somewhat of a new school, it stood proudly with five different buildings consisting of classrooms, library, gym, pools, halls and dormitory. There was a maximum of seven floors for each of them. In the back was a great field used for track and other sports, while in the front, a great big black iron gate had the school name emblazed proudly above it in a seemingly golden tone. Vines and flowers grew on the fence as trees lined the streets equally. Everywhere outside were endless lawns of emerald grass and up high in the sky was the warm morning sun peering softly from between white fluffy clouds.

Inside one of the buildings, the sunlight filtered gently through high windows as if to display the cheerfulness of yet another school day. The scene that was displayed was that of a hallway connecting the dormitory to the building that located the classrooms... Of the polished floors that seemed like golden mahogany from the glow. Of the sweet scent of baking bread from the cafeteria and the strong aroma of coffee.

Rukawa paid heed to nothing at all as he rushed along those hallways, too intent to reach his first class of his first day in this school. College. College in Tokyo where his reality will be from this day forward. He was going to major in something that would gain his interest later on. For now though, he took it upon himself to enroll minor subjects that could prove benificial later on. Political Science, History, Chemistry... Though true that those were subjects that should have brought him down to his knees, he was not going to back down. Life in America had taught him nothing but perseverance. Speaking of America though, he took up English too since he was well-educated in that subject anyway as his two year experience living abroad had given him enough experience to be worthy of high marks in his chosen subject.

That would be later though - English class. Now was the time for Geometry in room 512, and he was still on the first floor of this building, still having four more floors to climb. With quick steps, he ran up to the floor of his classroom, rushing, rushing...

Room 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511...

The room was empty. Just his luck. What had occured now? Was the class moved to another classroom? There was no trace of any living person inside the room, no black mark of marker on the white board to signify what had occured. And all he could do was stand before the door, panting quite a bit as all that had happened this morning seemed such a wasted effort. He stood for a long time there before a voice cut through his stillness.

"Hey," it said, causing the freshman to finally turn away from the empty classroom. It was a man - boy - whatever. The momentary lapse brought a bit of confusion to his mind but he swallowed his awkward thoughts and focussed on the stranger.

The person before him was tall - taller than him too - and was smiling gently. His eyes seemed to twinkle with mischief and deliquency.

"You belong to this class too?" Those words seemed to echo thoughts that hinted on joy. The person winked. "First day of class. During this day, teachers don't attend first class most often than not. College is different now, kid. Not like in high school when everything's so strict and all. I assume you're a freshman. Never seen you before..."

Rukawa said nothing as he merely looked on at the man. He evaluated those words and was faintly surprised that the person before him answered silent questions that he did not even have to ask. Bowing his head in such a slight manner that it barely looked like a nod, he restrained a sigh as he moved to walk on towards somewhere else.

"Hey!" The man said, in a near sing-song voice. His face was in an amused grin. "You could at least tell me your name, kid."

Rukawa stopped in his tracks and actually hesitated. And then he shrugged internally at the thought that his giving away his name would not really lead to anything dangerous to himself.

"Rukawa..." he spoke in a barely audible voice. "Rukawa Kaede."

A small chuckle answered him softly. Rukawa felt something inside himself curl darkly in reaction. He resisted the urge to close his eyes and rush the man to start a fight. Instead, he breathed deeply, waiting for words to justify that laughter.

"Akito Yuuto... That's my name. A Junior."

All he could really do was nod slightly at the revelation and he was walking away from the possibility of socializing and friendship as if it was a plague. He heard the young man's near silent protest at his cold personality but he ignored him, going instead to the staircase so as to do something productive for this morning.

Because there seemed to be no meeting for his Geometry class, he could not help but go to the gardens outside the building. He did not really know why he went there, just that the sight of nature was something he rather much preferred than the company of other humans. There was no way that he could go on back to his dormitory room, nor perhaps try to gain friends from the hallway. This was much more to his taste.

He sat down on a stone bench, right under a sakura tree. That day, he wore all black from his long coat to his slacks, shirt and boots - something that distinguished him easily from both the cheerful crowd that were all across on the lawn as well as the lively colors of trees, plants and flowers. He sat there with silence, solitary as always. Under the sunlight, he looked so out of place in the surroundings, a darkness in a cheerful world. And even in his thoughts, he was truly a being so detached from everything true.

It was just last week when he had arrived in this country. After two years of trying to pursue his dream, everything came to an abrupt stop as he decided to go to college here in this city. The decision had been so spontaneous, something that shocked his coach and team back in Chicago . After all, he was well on his way to the big leagues as they said to him. He was going to be big as he would get a basketball scholarship from a big college once he graduated from high school. He was going to fulfill his dream and keep that promise that he made to himself so many years ago.

Now, this. He was back where he had started, running away. He was here in this University, so far from his fame and his fortune. He was now going to be unknown again in this school - a solitary, quiet boy who would be a far cry from the person he was in his high school days. Fate had changed him after all.

Rukawa sighed faintly, his chest hurting quite a bit from both his thoughts and memories instilled in his mind. He wanted to get rid of the dark mood that he seemed to get himself into but try as he might, it was there to grind him with much force and intensity. Not really realizing it, he closed his eyes from the glare of the sun that slithered from between the sakura blossoms...

Recalling once again...

Two years in the past when he had begun to truly chase his dreams. He had risked it all and pushed hard against what people believed. He recalled words directed to him, trying to stiffle his wish. There had been Coach Anzai who felt that he was not prepared. There was even his basketball rival who deemed that he should get a bit more experience before venturing to America . He'd ignored them all just to pursue the one thing that would make him happy. He went to America ...

Chicago City , Illinois . The home of the person he admired - Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls. Truly, he'd have his chance to prove himself there. He went to a high school called Gregory High. Finding an apartment near, he found a job to support himself as there was no person to depend on as always. Working in a video shop while having a night shift of waiting at a bar downtown. The schedule was staggering for he was only a student but for his dreams, he would do anything.

Then came the day. The first day of school in September where, as he moved from Japan as a 1st year, there, he was now considered as a Sophomore. He had taken IQ tests and different kinds of exams and surprisingly enough, he was deemed fit to be at Sophomore level. The principal had even told him that if he gave more effort, he would be a remarkable student. And those words had brought back the memory of the many failures he'd had in Japan . It caused him to push harder and do whatever it took, just because he believed that America was the land of opportunity, the land where his dream would be fulfilled. It drove him against his limits, doing all it took to prove himself. And he did achieve what he set out to do. They took notice of him. He became one of the players in the starting line-up even if more than a few of his teammates took bad notice of it. He was on his way to becoming someone...

On the first day of classes, he met a boy, two years older than himself. Handsome, blond, green-eyed, and with a constant smirk, that boy was from a rich upper class family. He was the team's captain, stronger and much much taller than himself. Jake Blair, a senior who was delayed in his studies because of behavioral problems from the past. Jake Blair, a face that he would always recall for the rest of his life...

The memories and his musing was broken by a rather obvious fit of giggles. A few girls walked past him with flushed faces as they tried not to be obvious with their stare at him. The sight was a familiar one, something that had always happened while he had been studying in Japan . He almost smiled wistfully as the thought of his first day in Shohoku came back to his mind. Unfortunately though, the smile was killed immediately. He saw no purpose to it. Though it was an act that he had learned to do much in the States, it was something that he now wanted to erase completely from his expressions.

Rukawa sighed quietly in his seat, his hands folded neatly on the darkness of his lap. As he looked on at his pale and slender wrists, he nearly closed his eyes as he tried not to recall any bitter thought. Underneath his heavy black clothes - underneath his long black coat - and underneath his skin, there were fingerprints on his soul. It was the reason that he was starting over once more - away from anything or anyone that was faamiliar. It was why he was going to forget his passions and move on to become a person who was considered normal. To move on and live a life so that he could not repeat mistakes of the past...

As Rukawa thought that, his eyes could not avoid to glimmer with faint sadness as he saw a white bandage peeking from under the dark hem of a sleeve. The bandage was wrapped around a wound he'd inflicted himself way back, something reminiscent of a day so so long ago. It was there to remind him that life had never been intended to be with kindness to him.

Memories hurting and thoughts tiring his already exhausted self, he looked on up slowly to meet the sky that peeked between pink-flavored petals of cherry blossoms. A gentle breeze drifted carefully. The branches swayed in a faint swishing sound and a multitude of petals drifted as commanded by the wind. Those sweet-scented petals flew to the direction of the wind before faltering suddenly as the breeze ceased to exist. They tumbled about softly, gently in the air before raining in a shower around him...

Rukawa raised a hand without thought and watched as one fragile petal drifted to meet his skin. It landed in a slow motion on his palm, almost dramatic in the way it moved. But Rukawa, though appreciative of its beauty, merely could feel bitterness in his being - as if this very moment was a way for the gods to mock his existense. He stood slowly, letting the fallen petals that had covered his dark clothes fall onto the grass-covered ground. Crushing the petal in his hand and seeing as it became reminiscent of his pale flesh's bruises, he just rolled his eyes and walked on to go get breakfast for this day.

Inside the hallways were the boisterous youths that started out their lives independently for the first time in their lives. Walking through the lively crowd, their talk were about immature things that Rukawa found no purpose for. They talked of their vacation, their girlfriends and their hobbies. They spoke of their excitement and the freedom they now have as they were away from their families. They grinned about drinking and partying. And he, Rukawa Kaede, spoke to no one as he cut through them in his silence.

Gym class was going to be next. He glanced down at his watch to see that only a few minutes were actually left before that class began. It seemed as though today's musing had taken too much of his time and perhaps brunch would be more appropriate for this morning. After all, after gym class, his next subject would be in the afternoon at 1 pm . So he headed instead for the gym instead of the cafeteria.

Right about now, the time was 8:15 am . It was early enough to go get changed into his gym clothes. It would give him the opportunity to take off his clothes without any prying eyes. He entered the boy's locker room slowly, seeing immediately the clothing intended for the students of the next class. A balding instructor dressed in black and red trainers was speaking with a student who sat on one of the benches. He walked over slowly, his motions fluid as he tried to ignore the nausea he felt when faced with the sight of a simple locker room. The two people inside the room turned their heads to meet his eyes.

"And you are?" The older of the two asked in a question, his brows raising once.

Rukawa knew. He might look weird, dressed in mourning black in this place. It was as if he was dressed for Winter though the season was now Spring. And so he answered with his usual near silent voice, meeting those eyes of the older man without any visible expression. "For the next class."

The man nodded slightly. He seemed to be thinking of something. "You're tall. Hey, maybe you could join the basketball team. It would be later when the team would meet up with freshmen who would like to join. Do you have past experiences? Though you seem a bit on the thin side, our coaching staff is well known for training newcomers to become great players." He smiled.

That deep sick feeling on his stomach returned and he resisted the urge to smile bitterly in response. "No interest." And with that, he suddenly found himself feeling so cold despite his heavy clothes. He did not even bother to get his uniform - the shorts and shirt that would signify that he was not an athlete since only the athletes were excempted from gym class. He walked away from the locker room, his mind in disarray and it was too late before he realized that he had come into the gym.

A basketball court greeted his view. It felt nostalgic yet his hands clenched and unclenched on his side. The bright weather seemed too much, this early spring day too cheery for his mood. From the windows high above, the warm glow of the sun entered and bathed the polished floors. Looking down, he could see his own reflection on the floor, distorted by visions of a painful reminiscense.

It was all too soon - this vision. Not a lot of days had happened since that incident in Chicago. And yet he could not even find himself to break away with courage from his inner dilema. He turned away slowly from the proof of his existense reflected from the shiny wooden floor and looked up at the sound of something pounding against the gym floor.

They were all so tall - most as tall or taller than him. They were laughing about in their enjoyment as they moved about in practiced instincts. Guarding, trying to shoot, to steal, to block... They all moved about with machine-like beauty that Rukawa had to stiffle the vile feeling in his chest.

Basketball - it was called.

One man amongst the team suddenly stopped in his play as his eyes met the carefully guarded blue eyes of the freshman. He smiled genuinely and approached, his actions reminiscent of someone else from the past. The man stopped only once he was standing in front of the newcomer.

"Rukawa Kaede." he spoke, a mischievous smirk on his lips. How Rukawa would have loved to erase that smirk from that seemingly friendly face. "We've met just this morning if you don't recall. Akito Yuuto is my name. Are you here to join the basketball team? There aren't a lot of freshmen who came in yet. I hope you'll join."

Rukawa narrowed his eyes a bit before going back to the impassiveness that served as his daily mask. He nodded faintly. "I recall you. But I am not going to jo - "

"Hey there everyone!!!" It was a loud and boisterous voice that cut through Rukawa's statements.

All heads turned upon the shout. And all eyes came to stop on a youthful looking student who entered the gym with a big smile on his face. The boy was Hikoichi Aida, an immediate columnist of the school paper. He was also drafted by the team to participate in the coaching staff as his reputation of being a news gatherer made him a great asset to the team. The said team laughed at his greeting, amused at his youthful exuberance.

"It's great to be a part of Yokaze team!" Hikoichi declared. He walked on in with a big smile on his face as he seemed so nostalgic about the sight of a big bright gym that reminded him of his high school days. He noted the great equipment, the polished floors, the numerous seats on the side, the high lights on the ceiling and finally, the college team which he would now be a part of. As he moved on in though, he was made to stop as he spotted a shock of black clothing and pale features that seemed familiar to his senses. The tall boy he spotted seemed to be trying to be inconspicuous as he lowered his head and moved towards the exit. As he did though, a blinding realization made Hikoichi rush up to the other boy - to hold that bony shoulder as if his life depended on it, and to turn his body around so that he could focus more on his face.

Those features: the pale complexion, the striking blue eyes, the silky black hair and the delicate face that spoke volumes of the boy's being known to most as beautiful. Hikoichi knew this boy - this impassive boy who seemed so disinterested in anything but the sport he was always involved in.

"Rukawa?" Hikoichi spoke, his voice seeming a whisper. "Rukawa Kaede?"

Rukawa shrugged away the hand on his shoulder and nodded despite himself. He too recognized the other boy but he had no intention of getting together to socialize and reminisce on his wasted past. That was all over now. Today was a new day and...

"Wow! Rukawa Kaede! Are you here to join the basketball team? That's really really great! You know the team's going to be the strongest now. After all, we already have - "

"Hey, Hikoichi, you know him?" It was Akito who spoke, noticing Hikoichi's outburst. He approached the two of them as the entire team suddenly took notice too. The rest of the players neared them and Rukawa couldn't help but feel like he was being backed into a corner.

"Why are you shouting all over the place, Hikoichi?" A nearly 7 feet individual asked, holding a ball to his side and focusing on Rukawa. His face looked so menacing but his expressions were kind. "Do you know him?"

"Oh, yeah! Yeah!" Hikoichi exclaimed. "He - "

But his words this time were halted as a sound of clapping ceased all actions. Everyone looked towards the entrance of the gym to meet the familiar sight of the future captain of the basketball team. He looked tall as most of them and his face was set in a smile as he walked towards the object of attention. Still clapping his hands carefully, he approached Rukawa.

Rukawa's hands fisted on his sides as his eyes widened quite a bit. He had not expected to see him here - not on this day, this hour, this moment in time. Sendoh Akira - his former rival during high school heree in Japan. One who tried to stiffle him once from going abroad to chase his dreams. What was he doing now, clapping for him? Did he come to mock him? Now that he was back in Japan, obviously a failure in America, was Sendoh now looking at him with amusement since he could not even find success?

Rukawa could not help but feel trapped as the players who had crowded around him parted to make a path for Sendoh to walk to him. He felt his heart beating quicker. His hands felt so clammy and he knew he was sweating. But his sweat wasn't because he felt hot. He felt cold - so very cold - as if faced with the being who would judge his fate after life.

Sendoh stopped in front of him with his ever present smile.

"You know him, Sendoh?"

"Is he really a good player as Hikoichi says?"

"If he's such a great player and Hikoichi wants him so much to be a part of the team, why haven't I heard of him before?"

"Sendoh?"

But Sendoh had no response to them as he focussed only on the boy in front of him.

"Rukawa-kun, it's been a long time, isn't it? How was America?"

Rukawa found his throat tight but he ignored it. All he wanted was to leave this place and this meeting. But he could not do so as the players surrounded him. Also, there was the fact that he was being interrogated by Sendoh. Even if he wanted to bolt, even his own body could not agree with him. His legs seemed locked to the floor. He was doomed to answer Sendoh's questions...

"Fine..."

"So... Are you here to become teammates with me? For the first time on the same side with Sendoh Akira? You've come back for that, haven't you? Well, welcome to the team!"

Rukawa felt those words burdening him further. The mere thought of playing again. The force of habit of getting up early each day and staying up late at night just to practice and improve himself. The pain and defeat, the victory and the momentary satisfaction. All those were too much for his psyche and he found himself looking away from the intense blue eyes that belonged to his former rival.

He walked past him, their bodies brushing against each other in a quick exchange of heat. Rukawa felt something akin to desire inside himself, one that had been present even two years ago. A silent desire, a silent defeat - a silent longing and confusion that eventually lead to sorrow. He clamped down those thoughts quickly and walked away from the crowd.

But just to answer - just to answer that question directed at him, he paused, not once turning back.

"I'm sorry but..." Rukawa smiled the first time that day. It was one that no one witnessed - a smile of sorrow and bitterness and defeat.

"I'm sorry but...

"I hate basketball."

***

A feeling of hate?

To someone so passionate about the most important sport in their lives, that answer could not have been true. But the words were spoken so surely. Sendoh's wide eyes continued to watch as the dark-clothed boy walked away from the gym. There was something he was feeling deep inside himself. Was it anger or was it sympathy? He could recall vividly two years in the past when Rukawa came to challenge him for the last time.

<I'm going to America.> was Rukawa's words. They played their last one-on-one and still, Rukawa had been defeated. Knowing that he would miss having a challenging playmate on court, Sendoh had wanted to delay him from chasing his dreams - if only for a few more weeks. But Rukawa had been so determined and he had truly left a few days after that. He was never heard from again...

Sendoh recalled after that day that there was an empty feeling that had harmed him. In court, both in official matches or those in the parks, he could not help but feel bored as there was no more competent player to challenge him. He became the best in Kanagawa, already fought over by different great colleges even in his 2nd year. Then he'd chosen this school just because his uncle was the one who owned it. Although the school was somewhat new, it was known for its reputation, not only in academics but also in sports. It had been a year since he was attending college here.

Now...

"Sendoh..." Hikoichi muttered, the first to speak from the shock of Rukawa's words. He looked up at his senior with a confused face. "Why did Rukawa say that?"

"I don't really know but..." Sendoh shrugged. "He is a great player, isn't he? Undoubtedly, he had improved because of his tenure in America but..."

"He played basketball in America?" a deep voice roared with excitement and bewilderment. They all turned to the nearly 7 feet tall center of the basketball team. The man was Hidoki Shinji, a talented Senior who was already being scouted by professional teams.

"That's why we never heard of him..." another said. This one was Eikoji Touga, a popular defensive player.

"He was my rival back in high school." Sendoh spoke his memories, eyes having a faraway look as he recalled his number one challenger. "He was the only one who could challenge me. The only one..."

"Wow, really?"

Hikoichi smiled a little distantly as well, recalling those days too. Now that Sendoh was the number one player in Japan, he was going to have a challenger again. That was going to be Rukawa Kaede. But there was one problem now. What had happened to the talented ball player who had an intense drive in the area of basketball? And why...

Those words echoed in his mind.

"What are you going to do, Sendoh?"

Surprisingly, Sendoh's face lit up in a smile. It was a rare kind of smile. It was something Sendoh only had when faced with a challenge as high as this one. During games with Rukawa, Hikoichi could recall how vividly Sendoh's lips tugged up in happiness. He recalled Sendoh's words back then...

"What will I do?" Sendoh repeated the question. He looked on at his teammates for one moment before moving to leave the gym. "I will do whatever it takes to get him to join the team." And then he paused only to glance back at Hikoichi. "And Hikoichi, I need your help."

Hikoichi's ears perked up and he got determined. "Alright!"

They walked, the two of them on the hallways of that building. Though there was a meeting for the basketball players, no one really protested their pursuit for a player as great as Rukawa Kaede.

"Hey Hikoichi..." Sendoh muttered, looking to the side at his smaller companion. "I need information on Rukawa's stint in America, if you could get that for me..."

"Well, that would be a bit challenging but I think I can handle it..."

"And I also need his dorm room number and... Well, that's enough for now."

"Easy!" Hikoichi nodded excitedly, already jotting his assignment on a notepad. "Anything else?"

"For now, I think that would be enough." Sendoh nodded. He watched as Hikoichi moved away from him quickly, intent on doing his intended job. He was glad of it. Thankfully, Hikoichi was given scholarship by this school. Not as a player but a part of the coaching staff. Hikoichi was very talented in the gathering of information.

Sendoh suddenly paused as he caught a whiff of breakfast food from the cafeteria. It caused his stomach to growl in protest as he recalled that he had not had any meal yet this day. There had only been hot chocolate while riding on the train. After all, he had just arrived in Tokyo from Kanagawa about an hour ago.

Breakfast... But then he was in the pursuit of someone familiar. His hunger was staggering but his curiosity was more determined to keep his attention. Though he wanted to look for Rukawa now...

A sudden smile touched Sendoh's face. Well now. He did not really have to hesitate after all. There was Rukawa lining up to get his own breakfast. It was perhaps his lucky day. Two birds killed with one stone.

***

Rukawa reached the far end of the line, his stomach already grumbling from the scent of the food. He tried not to recall the events that just happened minutes ago. If he closed his eyes, he could just see it again. Sendoh in front of him with questions regarding basketball - his now most hated sport. Then the feelings of self-hate and defeat would come back to his mind. There were so much he regretted now.

If only he would not have left Japan, if only he was stronger, smarter... Now, he was back where he started - and even less than that. Now, he was nothing. Now, he was no one.

Trying to cease dark thoughts, he tried to think of something else...

Sendoh. Sendoh Akira. There was something pricked inside himself and he resisted the urge to sigh tiredly. So, they were going to be school mates now. At least they were not going to be teammates as well. It would bring back too much emotions to his heart - and those emotions would damage him further until he could no longer breathe.

And yet...

Just the sight of him. Just the sight of Sendoh and he already felt weak, as if he was slowly and carefully being driven against a wall, someone squeezing his neck deliberately to kill him completely...

"Rukawa-kun."

Rukawa did not turn around. He knew immediately who it was. Even though it had been two years... He knew that voice completely as if it was his own.

"Sendoh."

"Hah, you know me already? Good, good. Anyway, about the team..."

"I don't intend to join it." Rukawa answered, already knowing the question. The line moved forward and he followed with a step. He was already beside the trays and he took one of them...

Sendoh frowned. The line moved forward again and he took a tray too. "Are you sure? Why?"

Rukawa rolled his eyes, a bit annoyed. His reasons were of not of Sendoh's concern. They were private to him only. "None of your business..."

The line moved again. Rukawa looked up as he was about to be served. He intended to eat for lunch and breakfast so he pointed at a black box located inside the glass... "Bento box and a can of coke."

Sendoh thought of something and looked at the lady who was serving. "Make that two."

She nodded and got two of each that Rukawa had ordered. Handing those to Rukawa, Sendoh grinned cheekily and took both from the lady. He rushed towards the cashier and paid for both meals. Rukawa only looked at him.

"My treat." Sendoh explained as his change was given. "It's been two years, hasn't it? I think this is okay. As long as..."

"What?" Rukawa asked, his eyes narrowed quite a bit. He had his arms around himself, looking as if he was insecure and vulnerable all at the same time. It made Sendoh pause, having not seen that before. Looking closely at Rukawa, he noticed things that he had not seen previously in the gym.

Rukawa looked up at Sendoh, wanting to glare but resisting greatly to do that. He noticed something too...

Sendoh was now so tall. Perhaps he was now 6'4" to 6'5" - he really couldn't be sure. He towered over him greatly as he had just grown to 6'2" during the past two years. Late night jobs and over stress did that to him as his nourishment went instead to his need for energy instead of his growth. That was why he had only grown an inch or so. Also, Sendoh's body was a bit more bulkier than before - not all that bulky but with a larger frame. Rukawa couldn't help but feel small at his still slender frame.

Rukawa looked away.

Sendoh's eyes softened as he realized too that his former rival was somewhat feeling a bit miffed at the difference in their heights now. He resisted the urge to just ruffle the boy's hair as if to make him feel better from such a simple bothering fact. "Brunch today is my treat... As long as we eat out in the garden. I love it out there."

Rukawa nodded and moved away from the cashier, pocketing his hands. And without really realizing it, he just let himself go on with Sendoh out towards the green lawns on the outside of the building. They situated themselves underneath a sakura tree and both sat down to start their lunch.

Rukawa carefully took off the cover of the bento box. He looked for awhile at the dish he was about to eat and almost smiled wistfully. Few days ago, he wouldn't even touch food. He was so far along his road of desperation that he felt no need to continue on even with just the simple event of feeding himself. The proof of that was the cut that was soon going to scar his wrist. The thought made him sigh softly as he placed the cover on the ground. Taking the chopsticks from the paper covering, he looked slowly to the side where Sendoh was doing the same. The sight and realization that the older boy was now near him gave him quite a shock since he had, after all, decided not to socialize...

Rukawa looked back down at his food. Perhaps it was the fact that Sendoh was familiar, that's why he unconsciously allowed him to stay by his side. Perhaps it was the things he'd heard from the Ryonan bench before - that Sendoh had such a calming effect on people that there was no choice but to trust him and to appreciate him. Maybe because of those reasons...

"What was America like?" Sendoh suddenly muttered, chopsticks with a piece of fish. He was very curious, not one to have left Japan.

Surprised, Rukawa did not turn his head, not wanting Sendoh to see all the bitterness that he felt about that country. Though he did not want to speak, he felt as though he owed Sendoh an answer. After all, it was Sendoh who had first known of his choice to leave Japan. He felt as though Sendoh now had to know about some details about his stay there too. "It was..."

Rukawa paused. A bit away from them, a few girls were giggling as they pointed about at Sendoh. Surely, Sendoh was now so popular. It brought a bit of nostalgia, though having not much attention given to him was a very welcomed thing.

"Huh?" Sendoh asked, waiting for an answer. He looked down at Rukawa and saw that the younger boy was looking on at a group of girls. The girls were all looking at him. Sendoh smiled a bit distantly at their sight. They were part of his large fan club. Since he was now the number one player of Japan, it was unavoidable to have admirers. He grinned as he remembered Rukawa's own fans. "Hey, I remember that before, you too had your own fanclub."

"It's over now." Rukawa just muttered with a shrug. He started to eat, looking away from those girls and focusing only on his own food. <And it's better this way. I have my anonymity and I can have my peace.>

Sendoh shook his head and focussed too on his food. "So tell me about America again?"

Rukawa swallowed his food and paused. Then he spoke, his voice as soft as ever. "It's like Japan..."

Sendoh nodded. He waited for Rukawa to say more but when he looked at him, he saw that Rukawa was already eating once again. Surprised, he realized that that was the only thing that Rukawa was going to tell him. Sendoh chuckled quite a bit, amused, gaining Rukawa's attention.

"What?" Rukawa demanded even in his soft voice, his eyes boiling with anger. He had always hated being laughed at...

"Nothing... I'm sorry." Sendoh grinned, ceasing his laughter in understanding. "So anyway, did you date a lot of girls? Lots of hotties, I'm sure."

"No..." Rukawa focussed again on his food. He tried not to think of relationships - /those/ kinds at least. And what had happened in America... He closed his eyes and tried not to recall those memories. Sighing so softly, he opened his eyes only to place his food down on the ground. He'd lost his appetite. Not that it was a new thing. It had been happening too much lately - something he could never control. So instead, he leaned on back against the tree, drawing his knees up quite a bit as he raised his eyes to look at the falling sakura blossoms. If he could only come back to those days as an innocent child, he would have loved to have painted this scenery or at least appreciate it with a smile and carefree laughter. But he was not a child anymore and his innocence had left him in a dark world which he could never escape.

Sendoh paused in eating his food, just watching. There was something peculiar about Rukawa. There was something different from this Rukawa to the Rukawa of old. It was not only in physical. It was something about his aura...

Was he humbled by his lack of success in America? Was he in pain? Was he... Sendoh wondered why he himself was concerned. Maybe it was because in this place, he was Rukawa's only friend. Then again, they were barely friends back then, weren't they? So perhaps, he was Rukawa's only close acquaintance of sorts. The only one...

He was jolted back to reality as Rukawa spoke.

"Shouldn't you be in the gym?"

"Huh?" Sendoh was a bit surprised at Rukawa's perception. He smiled gently. "Yeah, but they understand. I'm with an important person that I haven't seen and heard from for the past two years."

Rukawa looked surprised for a small amount of time before he looked away, not wanting to show his bare emotions to his former rival. Bitterness clouded his heart because he knew... "You're here, Sendoh Akira, because you want me to join the basketball team. Isn't that right?" <That's all you want... And nothing else...>

"What?" Sendoh was equally surprised. He knew it was true. That was his initial purpose. But then, he felt as if they were sort of like friends. And, well, Rukawa had nobody to be with at this hour. Sendoh wanted to catch up with the latest happenings in the other's life.

Rukawa looked at Sendoh once before leaning on back more at the tree. Because he was thinking so deeply, he did not notice that he had pulled his legs closer to himself. He rested his chin on top of his knees and he just looked at nothing in particular.

And again, Sendoh found himself surprised at the younger boy's actions. Rukawa... seemed so vulnerable, so pained, so delicate...

What could have happened in America?

"You have changed, Rukawa Kaede..." He could not avoid but speak his thoughts. When Rukawa looked at him, he only gave him a gentle gaze as if telling him that it was okay to trust him, to tell him, to become his friend...

He was surprised at the bitter smile that served as the younger boy's response.

"Everyone changes. It's a natural thing."

"I did not mean it that way..." Sendoh shook his head. "It's as if... As if you got lost somewhere. And it was hard for you to find your way." <Am I right?>

Though he hoped that Rukawa was just in some sort of a mood, his instincts already knew that Rukawa was hiding something tragic within himself. And upon that thought, he found himself so scared of what could affect Rukawa that much. It made him want to be friends with the younger boy.

But Rukawa... He only laughed bitterly in his mind. <You couldn't be more right, Sendoh. But even while realizing this, you can do nothing, can you? And if you do something, what will it be? What can you do, Sendoh?>

Rukawa slowly gazed down on the ground and saw his unfinished meal. Picking it up, he stood slowly and placed them all to the nearby garbage can. When he looked back at Sendoh, he noted the surprise and concern there. Those emotions on his former rival alarmed him immediately. The mere expression - it was so much a shadow of a certain person in his past. But that person had lied and cheated only to...

He turned away. Wind billowing his coat and hair gently, he focussed his gaze back on the building of the school. "I've got to go... Thanks for the meal..."

And he walked away from what he feared would ultimately hurt him in the end.

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