Time After Time ~ Act 1
by the diggler
Warnings: This fic is a YAOI lemon [has explicit boyxboy homosexual content, FOR ADULTS ONLY]
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk and related characters are the property of Inoue Takehiko et al.
~
Scene 2
"Kaede?"
Rukawa tensed slightly at the sound of the other man's voice, but didn't move from his position on the bed. Sendoh hesitantly stepped into the room.
"Kaede please... it's been weeks." the spiky-haired man persisted.
Rukawa remained silent.
"Kaede, I can't live without you..."
He continued to stare at the ceiling.
Sendoh walked over to the dresser, picking up the little pieces of torn-up white paper strewn across the top of it, discarded.
"You ripped up the number again." The spiky-haired man sighed. Rummaging around the dresser top for another piece of paper he finally retrieved a bright yellow post-it, writing down a phone number and sticking it on the side of the mirror.
"Please Kaede, just keep it. Call me if you need anything... or if you want to talk... even if you just want to yell at me... Please..."
Rukawa still didn't answer.
Sendoh's fist came down on the dresser with a dull thud.
"Damnit Kaede I'm going crazy without you. I don't know how much longer I can last like this!"
Rukawa's glazed eyes finally shifted to the other man, but still he did not respond, staring at the other man's back in silence.
Finally Sendoh turned and walked towards the door.
"I'm so sorry Kaede. Please call me, I'll be waiting for you." the spikey-haired man said. Then he left.
Rukawa let out a shaky breath. It was always the same. Every day Sendoh showed up, begged his forgiveness, left the telephone number... And every time he couldn't even speak to him, couldn't even look at his face, still too pained by his lover's betrayal.
Finally Rukawa stood up from the bed, taking the phone number off the mirror and walking to the window. Sendoh was down in the street getting into his car, but before the spikey-haired man stepped inside he paused, looking up at Rukawa’s window and heaving a pained sigh.
Rukawa flicked the curtain closed, crumpling Sendoh’s note in his fist.
Scene 1 ~ flashback
"Ne Kae-chan, how does that feel?"
"Mmmm... good." Rukawa murmured languidly.
Turning his head, he gave his spikey-haired lover a kiss.
"Arigatou." Rukawa said softly. Sendoh beamed at him.
"My pleasure." the spiky-haired man responded, returning the kiss.
"So what's the special occasion?" Rukawa asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Dinner? Wine? The massage?" Rukawa prodded, arching an eyebrow.
"What? Can't I give my boyfriend a welcome home treat?"
"Hn."
Sendoh grinned and kissed him again, maneuvering around him until he was lying fully on top of Rukawa across the couch. Sendoh continued kissing him softly, tender and tentative, until he finally pulled back, smiling down at him gently.
"I missed you." Sendoh whispered.
"I know." Rukawa replied. He knew how much Sendoh hated it when he had to go away for training. Sendoh was the kind of person that needed to be able to touch and be touched all the time, to be able to show and share his affection whenever he wanted. Being separated from Rukawa drove him crazy.
"Did you miss me?" Sendoh asked.
"What do you think?" Rukawa replied. Sendoh pouted.
"Aw c'mon Kae-chan... say it."
Rukawa hn-ed.
Sendoh continued pouting.
Finally Rukawa relented.
"You know I did." he said softly. Sendoh grinned and began kissing him again. Once the spikey-haired man finally had his fill he pulled back with a sigh, resting his head on Rukawa's chest.
“I love you, you know that?”
Rukawa stroked Sendoh’s back in response.
"It was pretty rough without you here." Sendoh murmured. He hugged Rukawa tighter. "Ken-chan and Hanagata-kun had a really bad fight."
"Again?" Rukawa frowned. Lately it seemed that their two flatmates couldn't go a day without bickering over something.
"Yeah… but it was really bad this time." Sendoh said. Rukawa noted the anxiety in his boyfriend's voice and sensed Sendoh was concerned about his ex. Fujima and Sendoh had dated during high school, but when Fujima went off to university, the two decided it would be better to break it off. After all, both of them were pretty needy for affection, and they knew the distance would be too much for them. Then Fujima and Hanagata had gotten together and Sendoh and Rukawa got closer, but the two ex’s had remained friends all the while. Eventually the four of them decided to move in together to save money on a decent apartment in the city, and found that they all got along together quite well, so they had kept the arrangement for some time now even though they were now able to have places of their own. The only problem really was when one of the residing couples had the inevitable lover's quarrel, then it seemed like there was never enough space in the world to get away from the tension.
"Is Fujima alright?" Rukawa asked.
"I guess." Sendoh replied. Rukawa frowned but didn't say anything more.
"Kaede?"
"Mm??" Rukawa replied. After a moment of silence Sendoh opened his mouth to say something, but then stopped. He opened and closed his mouth one more time without saying anything, before he eventually found his voice.
"Tell me about your trip."
Rukawa raised an eyebrow at the question, knowing there was something else on Sendoh’s mind altogether, but he proceeded to tell Sendoh about his trip anyway to placate the spikey-haired man.
He didn’t get to say much though, as he was soon interrupted by the sound of angry voices at the front door.
"Wait! Toru No!"
Hanagata burst in through the front door, his eyes ablaze, Fujima following close behind with tears streaming down his cheeks. Sendoh jumped of the couch, startled, and to Rukawa's astonishment Hanagata headed straight for Sendoh and punched him square in the jaw.
"You bastard!" Hanagata roared.
"Oi Hanagata! What the hell?" Rukawa yelled, jumping of the couch.
"I knew there was something going on," Hanagata seethed. "Kenji hasn't been able to look me in the eye for days."
Confused, Rukawa looked at Hanagata, then at Sendoh for some sign of an explanation… but for some reason Sendoh didn't look as surprised as he himself was. In fact, the spiky-haired man looked a little like he’d been expecting it.
"Damnit Sendoh I bet you were just waiting for the chance to get back in his pants again!" Hanagata yelled.
"No Toru it wasn't like that! I went to him! He… he just comforted me!" Fujima insisted through tears.
"By fucking you?" Hanagata roared.
Fujima flinched, bowing his head.
Rukawa froze, feeling like the air had been sucked right out of his chest and his heart had stopped beating. Slowly he turned to look at his lover… and the look on Sendoh’s face told him it was true.
"Forget it. I can't look at you anymore." Hanagata spat out before stalking angrily out of the apartment.
Vaguely Rukawa heard Fujima whisper a soft apology before he left as well, and he and Sendoh were alone once more.
"Kaede--"
"Don't." Rukawa snapped, finally finding his voice after standing frozen in shock for what seemed like an eternity.
"Please Kaede… Ken-chan was so miserable after that fight… and I was so lonely without you… "
"Just stop." Rukawa whispered hoarsely, his eyes glazing over. Sendoh went white as he sensed the change in the other man.
"Kae--"
Rukawa turned away, silently walking towards their room and locking the door behind him.
Scene 6
The sun was already high in the sky when Rukawa woke, streaming
through the window and straight into his bleary eyes, which he
quickly closed again with a groan. His head ached and his body
was sore, stiff from finally being forced into a full
night’s sleep after what seemed like weeks of none at all.
He let out a deep sigh, and as he inhaled again he caught the
strong scent of alcohol in the room. Opening his eyes again he
saw the half-empty bottle of vodka sitting on his bedside table
next to a crumpled yellow post-it paper. He groaned, clenching
his eyes shut again as he rolled over-- and that was when he felt
the presence of another body stirring next to him in the bed. His
eyes flew open, and he hissed in a breath of shock.
"Akira...!"
The spiky-haired man was gazing at him intently, desperately. Reaching out he caressed the contours of Rukawa’s face.
"Kaede... Let's start over..."
Kaede blinked, confused, morning bringing back the reality of all that was harsh and fact, banishing the vague haze of images and insanity from the night before.
"Please Kaede." Sendoh whispered quietly, desperation in his voice as well.
Rukawa closed his eyes, struggling to make sense of the emotions running through him, confusing him, the events leading up to this... last night...
Last night.
Rukawa sighed. He supposed it was over. After last night any more fighting was pointless.
~
"Hi! "
‘...Hello.’
"How are you?"
‘...Good.’
"...How are things with you and Sendoh?"
‘Good.’
"...That’s good."
‘...You?’
"I’m okay. Got a new place. It’s small but cozy. You should visit me sometime."
‘...’
"We were friends once Kaede, we still can be."
‘...’
"... So... How's the old flat?"
‘...Emptier.’
"No new flatmates?"
‘No.’
"Oh. Ok."
‘... Fujima seems happy with Hasegawa.’
"Oh... That's good to hear."
‘And you?’
"Uh, no I’m not seeing anyone. Not since... then."
‘...Hanagata...’
"I think you can call me Toru now."
‘...Toru.’
"... Kaede--"
‘I've got to go, sorry.’
"Oh. Ok then. Give me a ring sometime alright?"
‘Yeah. Seeya.’
~