Time After Time ~ Act 2
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.
~
"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.’
~
Scene 8
"Kaede!”
Hanagata stood shocked at his door as he took in the sight of the raven-haired man before him, more rumpled than usual and eyes red-rimmed and subtly tinted with what Hanagata had come to know as deep pain.
"I-- I had no where else to go." Rukawa said softly. That was when Hanagata saw the suitcase next to the raven-haired man on the floor. He stepped outside, grabbing the younger man by the shoulders.
"What's wrong, what's happened?"
Rukawa looked up at him silently, his façade beginning to waver.
"Akira..." Rukawa whispered, his breathing becoming more labored... "Koshino…" he choked out, tears finally spilling over.
It was all Hanagata needed to understand. He pulled Rukawa into his arms, holding him tight. The raven-haired man clutched at him as he cried, soaking his shirt with tears, and he stroked Rukawa's back as the younger man let it out, trying to soothe him.
Sendoh, that bastard. How could he do it again? After all the pain it caused the first time... or was that even the first time?
He was going to kill Sendoh.
Rukawa pulled away, wiping his eyes.
"I’m sorry for disturbing you so late--"
"Hey it's ok..." Hanagata replied softly, assuring the other man. "You can stay, as long as like."
Rukawa looked at his feet, and Hanagata knew Rukawa was barely hearing him, barely aware of what was happening around him anymore. He knew what that was like.
"Come inside okay?" he said softly.
Rukawa nodded. He reached down to pick up his suitcase and Hanagata saw the younger man's hands tremble.
"Here, let me." Hanagata said, quickly reaching down to take the suitcase, bringing it inside.
"Come on, you look like you need rest... " he said, walking through the apartment. The younger man followed silently, in automatic.
"You can take my bed tonight."
Finally Rukawa stopped, some awareness coming into his eyes again as he looked at the bed.
"Don't worry about it, I'll take the couch. You look like you just need to sleep it off right now." Hanagata crooned soothingly.
Rukawa sighed, exhausted, and nodded. He stepped into the room and began undressing.
"Uh... can I get you anything? Water?"
Rukawa nodded.
"Okay." Hanagata turned to leave.
"Toru..." Rukawa finally found his voice.
"Yes?"
"Thank You."
Hanagata smiled at the younger man assuringly. When he came back from the kitchen, Rukawa was already in bed. Putting the water on the bedside table he knelt down next to the bed, observing the sleeping man. Slowly he reached out, brushing Rukawa's long raven bangs out of his face. With a heavy sigh he turned to leave, but as he did a hand grabbed his wrist.
"Don't go... please."
Hanagata blinked, the desperation in those few soft words ringing through his ears.
After a moment he nodded, sitting down on the bed next to the younger man. Rukawa watched him silently as he took off his glasses, leaving them on the bedside table before lying down, facing the younger man. Hesitantly Hanagata moved closer, his arm going around Rukawa's back and pulling him close. The younger man moved into his embrace willingly, nuzzling into his chest with a shaky sigh. It was a little strange, being able to hold Rukawa like this. It had been so long since he had last-- Suddenly Rukawa stirred, wrapping his arms around Hanagata's back tightly. Hanagata bit his lip, feeling the other man's breathing shake from crying so hard before.
He was really going to kill Sendoh this time.
Scene 3 ~ flashback
He stalked down the street angrily, his knuckles white as he
clutched his bottle of vodka tight. Before he knew it he was near
his destination. Looking up he saw only one light from their
apartment, a figure in the window looking down at the street. He
looked ahead of him in the direction where the figure was
looking, and in the dim streetlight he saw a spiky-haired man
gazing back up at the window. Hanagata ran forward in a rage, but
Sendoh had already gotten in his car and driven away.
Cursing loudly, he rammed his itching fist into a lampost instead. The pain of the impact was somewhat dulled by the amount of alcohol he’d already drunk, reducing it to a low throb. He grimaced at the bitter comfort the sight of blood on his knuckles gave him.
He looked back up at the building as he leaned back against the post, cradling his fist. The curtain in the window was now closed, dimming the glow from the room.
He stared at the window for a second longer, then stood up, taking one more swig from his bottle before going inside.
Scene 9
Sendoh flew backwards, falling onto the floor with a grunt. He
looked up and glared, hands covering his nose as blood started to
seep down his face.
"You bastard. You just can't keep your dick in your pants can you?" Hanagata yelled.
"Aki-kun!" Koshino exclaimed, apearing from the back of the apartment in nothing but his underwear. Hanagata's gaze whipped back to Sendoh, amazed at the man's utter shamelessness.
"So that's it then? One leaves and the other one moves right in before the bed is even gets cold?" Hanagata seethed. Sendoh looked away.
"Jesus Hanagata look what you done!" Koshino yelled, kneeling on the ground next to Sendoh and fussing over the bleeding man.
Hanagata narrowed his eyes in disgust.
"I already despised you for the part you played in breaking Fujima and me up, but the way you’ve treated Rukawa is absolutely unforgivable! You don’t deserve him." he ground out through clenched teeth. Sendoh whipped his head back up, his eyebrows raised.
"And you think you do?"
~