The Brothers - Chapter 3 The evening sky of Kanagawa district was painted bright orange, as it usually was in mid-summer. In the city, people were rushing home from work and school causing the traffic jam here and there. But back at Shohoku High School’s gym, there were a group of young men who were intently practicing their basketball skill, not caring at all for the whole crazy world outside. Crowded in one corner of the gym was the ridiculous group of cheerleaders and sitted at the other corner were a small group of three strange looking men and a shoulder length brown haired girl. “Where is Mito-kun today? I don’t see him anywhere,” questioned the blown hair girl with a puzzled expression on her face. The trios looked at one other dumfounded, then the tallest one told her that they were clueless. Haruko’s brows creased into a frown and sighed. /Where have you gone, Mito-kun? / A teenager of medium height could be seen walking into Ryonan’s gym but he was not one of Ryonan students. Once he saw the basketball team still practicing, Yohei leaned against the door and waited patiently for them to finish. A 190 centimeters player looked his way and smiled widely, immediately approaching him. “Hello Mito-kun!! What are you up to? Why did you come? Huh? Huh? Do you miss me?” the tall youth greeted him playfully. “Sendoh,” sighed Yohei. “If you don’t quit being ‘too friendly’ toward everybody around you, you’re gonna have a fight with him again you know that?” “Oo!! You aren’t in a good mood, ne? Why did you come anyway? There must be something really bothering you, otherwise you won’t be here this time, right?” Sendoh leaned over so he could see the shorter boy’s face better. “You’re right. There is really something I need your help with.” Keeping a smile on his face, Sendoh patted his friend’s back as he turned around and headed back to the group. “Ok. Wait for me here. I’ll finish in a minute.” Yohei could feel Koshino’s eyes on him and he knew the boy was not pleased whenever Yohei talked to Sendoh. Perhaps coming here for Sendoh’s help was not a good idea. He accidentally ran into Sendoh when he went fishing 3 months ago. They quickly became friends and day-by-day the relationship grew stronger. They gave each other trust and the taller youth always came to him when he had a fight with Koshino. Maybe that could be the reason why the number 6 player did not like him. Yohei sighed tiredly. /Oh God!! Why do you bind me to such jealousy? Koshino and now even Rukawa. Why don’t you choose the others for this mission of yours? / Yohei was still deep in thought when Sendoh once again approached him with a frown. It was a second after his friend’s arrival that he came to his senses. Yohei gave him a weak smile. “Are you alright, Mito?” worry was written on his handsome face. Shaking his head in denial, Yohei answered his friend caring statement. “Nah I’m fine! And if you have enough time to worry about me, I think you’d better keep that for Koshino-san, ne? Look! He is looking at me as if he wants to kill me this time.” Pointing at where Koshino had hidden, Yohei successfully distracted Sendoh from his unusual act. Sendoh beamed blowing a kiss to Koshino who was flushing furiously as he walked his way to the locker room, muttering under his breath. Yohei managed to snap the Ryonan player’s attention back to him by tapping him on his shoulder. “I don’t want to interrupt your little treat but can we talk now? I’m in a terrible rush,” the Shohoku student begged desperately. “Ok,” Sendoh sighed. “You must have something very important huh Mito-kun?” “Yes, very. But I can’t tell you now, not here.” “Alright. How about if we talk on the way home.” “Ok. That sounds good to me.” Yohei briefed the story to Sendoh shortly when they finally headed home. “Hmm… It is a wonder that Rukawa has those things in him too,” Sendoh said giving a little laugh. “Yeah!! That amused me too but I don’t have time for it now. I must help him get what he wants and I right now, I don’t have a clue.” “That’s why you come to me, right?” Yohei nodded, embarrassed. “I thought you could help me so…” Yohei said looking at the Ryonan player, eyes pleadingly as he talked. Sendoh swallowed hard as though he did not let it show. He had never seen his friend like this before. /For God’s sake, he’s so damn cute. If only I have met him earlier!?/ “Sendoh!! Sendoh!! Hey!! Are you listening?” Yohei yelled waving his hand in front of the tall one. “Oh yeah!! Where were we?” “You didn’t listen to me, Sendoh. I was asking you what I should do with Haruko.” “Oh! I’ve got it! Why don’t you find someone for her? It’s simple.” “Yeah simple! Just me who the hell he is? Do you have any ideas?” “It can be anyone… why bother?” “Because it’s not that simple! It has to be someone with a better basketball skill than Rukawa.” “ Why?” “Cause I say so and don’t ask any further because I won’t tell you. Now do you have any information for me?” Yohei impatiently demanded. “Well I don’t know… It’s pretty tough category. As far as I know Maki is eligible and maybe Jin too.” “You mean Shiniji Maki and Soichiro Jin from Kainan?” “Exactly them!!” “But how can I get to them?” Sendoh smiled slyly. “Leave it to me. Everything will be done as you wish.” Yohei looked suspiciously at his tall friend who was grinning from ear to ear. “This is gonna be fun,” Sendoh mused. “Maki!!” Someone with a certain spike hairdo called out to the tan teenager on the court. Curious, the tan man turned in the voice direction and met with an unexpected guest from Ryonan. “Sendoh” His month formed a word before he realized he had said it. Looking at the man irritably he thought. /What the hell is he doing here? / The spike hair guy did not bother about that the looks he was given, instead he closed the distance between them. It was already late so there was no one around. Keeping his charming smile on his face, Sendoh stood tall in front of the sweaty form of the best Kainan player. His smile widened in appreciation when Maki stepped back, unsure of what exactly the spike hair man wanted. “What do you want, Sendoh? Don’t say you want nothing because I know you,” he demanded. “Ack!! Don’t be so serious, Maki. I only came here to tell you a good news.” “What news?” asked Maki coldly. “Ryonan and Shohoku will be having a friendly street basketball tournament this coming Saturday at Kanagawa Central Park, so I assumed you must want to join us.” “That sounds good to me and it’s a good opportunity to check up on Shohoku,” Maki thought out loud. “Will you join us then?” “You have my word we will be there this weekend. What time will it start?” “Alright man, I’m glad you like the idea. We will meet in front of the South Gate at 9 o’clock. Don’t be late okay? Because we won’t wait for you.” Petting Maki’s dry shoulders, Sendoh provoked Maki’s seriousness with his rough joke and as he expect Maki shot him a death look before replying in his usual cool voice, not letting even a bit of anger show in his voice. “You will see who will be the one that is late.” With that Maki retreated and vanished into the locker room leaving Sendoh to stand alone in the middle of the gym. “Now Shohoku,” Sendoh smiled evilly leaving Kainan’s gym soundlessly. At the far side of Kanagawa district, where you could see all the houses lined up endlessly till the red line of horizon, there was a small but comfortable resident of the Sakuragis. Hanamichi and his little brother occupied the house all alone since last year when their father had to go abroad on business. He tried very hard to convince his children into coming with him to USA but the brothers insisted on staying in Japan. At last he gave up and took off to the other side of the world. The redhead hummed the so-called tensai song as he fixed dinner. An eight-year-old boy sneaked into the kitchen intending to scare his older brother who was still busy cooking their meal. Unfortunately the tall redhead had already detected his presence. Nonetheless, he pretended not the know it. Fighting the urge to smile, Hanamichi resumed messing with the stove calmly. The boy did not keep him waiting for long. A pair of delicate arms enveloped his waist from behind. He turned his head a little so he could see the boy. “Dinner is almost ready, are you hungry, Hi-Chan?” Hanamichi smiled down at his brother. Lifting Hikaru’s cute face up gently, Hana admired his brother gleaming eyes. “Yep!! What have you cooked today oniisan? It smells so good!” Hikaru said as he sniffed his nose in the air innocently making the tall redhead chuckle with pleasure. “It’s my special super delicious chicken pasta that I’m cooking for you and your little friend. Your friend is a lucky boy because I have time to cook today,” he said proudly then a small bit of concern was reflected on his face. “Speaking about your friend, has he not he arrived yet? I wonder if your friend will get here safely… After all, you said he would come here alone right?” Hikaru smiled reassuringly at his brother and was about to say something when a bell rang diverting his attention. Hanamichi let go of his mimic and said, “ Here he is. Hikaru will you go get the door for me? I’ll have yet to finish the rest.” Hikaru nodded quickly and emerged from the kitchen. Hanamichi heard the door open and close then quick footsteps headed to the kitchen. He turned around when they finally approached him, a chopper still in his hand. He was surprised that there was only Hikaru standing in the hallway and he seemed to tuck at someone’s arm that was hiding from the view. He grinned and managed to walk up to the boys but just before he could even make the first step his mimic said. “Come on! Oniisan is waiting, Kaede-Oniisan.” Hanamichi stopped dead in his tracks when the mystery boy stepped out from behind the wall. He was tall, as tall as he was, and he had that familiar dark hair along with those laser blue eyes, fox eyes. Hanamichi loss control rapidly and in a blink of an eye, he was in the bathroom across the hallway with Rukawa, leaving a young Sakuragi banging on the door not quite comprehending what had just happened. “‘Niisan!!” Hikaru banged. “What are you doing in there? ‘Niisan!! Are you playing without me again? ONIISAN…” Hikaru yelled, maintaining his action. At the same time, as the young Sakuragi was yelling at the door pointlessly, his big brother was performing the same kind of action to the expressionless Rukawa. The redhead had the man’s back against the door and his hands on the man’s collar shirt. “You kitsune!! I told you to get your hands off my brother. How DARE YOU MESS with MY BOY!! I’m gonna kill you for you dare touch HIM!! Yaaa!” The self-proclaim tensai swung his fist forward attending to punch his rival’s face but his target stopped the attack easily by professionally catching him by the wrist and pulling the whining redhead into the tight embrace. The fox worked hard on keeping the struggling youth in his hold. He bent his head a little so he could whisper into his ear. “Do’aho!” “Wha!? How dare you call me a Do’aho! You stupid kitsune!!” “Because you are, you said you don’t want me around your brother but you didn’t say that I can’t come with him when he asks me too.” The fox said in a unusually sweet voice. Hanamichi did not take notice since he was busy getting himself free from the strong grip. “There is no excuse for you!! You broke the deal so now I’ll beat you!! Let go off me!” Rukawa sneered at him and tightened his grip. “I don’t have to comply to your request and I told you I will keep my words. You can’t beat me.” He explained. Hanamichi was frustrated that he could not escape from the fox’s hold and was even more annoyed at Rukawa’s breath on his neck. “Quit that already!! You said you wouldn’t touch me AGAIN if I promised to be nice to you!!” Finally, Rukawa could not take it any longer. “Yes, I did say I won’t touch you if you’re nice to me. However you are trying to beat me up so I have every right to touch you. By the way, when do you want me to quit? Huh, Hana-Kun?” The raven-hair boy grinned evilly his eyes shone with lust. All colors drained away from his beautiful face when his added those words. “Hmm!! You smell good, what kind of shampoo do you use?” Hanamichi pushed the other youth‘s face away, now crying. “Don’t!! You promised,” Hana cried turning away, tears were running down his cheeks beautifully. Rukawa’s heart melted as soon as those crystal tears running down the youth’s cheeks. A week ago when the raven-hair youth first make a move on his do’aho, the redhead had cried unstoppably so he decided to make a deal in order to bring him out of his sorrow. The deal said he was not to touch the brothers again both in lust and kind and in return Hanamichi would be nice to him. That was why they did not have a single fight that week. The dark hair man sighed at the memory. The redhead was so damn good at keeping his promise and gave him no chance to get any closer than 10 meters. /Sorry Hana but if I don’t trick you I’m sure I never get you in my arms ever again. / He thought regretfully. “Don’t… I…I…” Hana sobbed. “Don’t… you…” Hanamichi was pulled closer to his enemy’s broad chest but instead of feeling sick at the fact that he was in a guy arms, he felt secured. Snuggling close to the comforted heat, tears on Hanamichi’s cheeks slowly dried away. Knowing that his secret love was calming down, he let the redhead go. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry,” Rukawa apologized. “Yeah right!! Hell you didn’t,” replied Hana sarcastically as he wipe his tears. “‘NIISAN!! What is going on?” Hikari was still outside banging the door. “Why don’t you answer me? Are you alright in there? ‘NIISAN!!” Hikaru kept beating on the door continually. Rukawa shrugged then he said, “ It seems to run in your family, ne?” Looking suspicious at the other youth, Hana asked, “ What!?” “Temper, ‘aho! I suppose we should go out there and pretend that this is just a greeting we usually do. You don’t want him to know about us, do you?” Not waiting for the other to reply, he took Hanamichi by his wrist and turned to open the door. Outside, the young Sakuragi was standing with one hand up about his head looking confused. “ O… oniisan!! What is wrong? Why did you drag Kaede-‘Niisan into the bathroom?” “It’s just how we greet, Hi-Chan. Sorry if we made you worry,” Rukawa stole the role smoothly. “Hey! Who give you permission to call him Hi-Chan.” “HIM,” Rukawa replied pointing at the boy. “HI-CHAN!!!” Hanamichi bellowed at his brother. “Waa!! ‘Niisan don’t be mad. It’s just that he is your friend and that I think it’s a good idea if I… a… I…” Hikaru suddenly ran out of excuses. “IF WHAT!!??” “Letting me call him the way you do. He wants us to be friend. ‘Aho!” Rukawa finished. “I didn’t ask you, kitsune. And DO NOT CALL ME ‘AHO!” The so-called tensai turned back to Hikaru petting on the boy’s head reassuringly as he said soothingly.“ Ok. I’ll let you go for this one but first tell me why you brought this guy here?” “Because he is your friend, isn’t he? And I like him,” The boy answered honestly. Hanamichi swung both hands up in defeat. “I’ll befriend him if that is what you like but do not do this again, okay?” eaming the redhead boy hugged the defeated brother tightly. “Thank you.” Turning to his enemy Hanamichi smirked, “I suppose you are hungry now, aren’t you? Come I’ll serve you the best pasta ever.” After dinner, the trios were in the living room watching some TV and talking about stuffs. Their conversation continued on until the telephone rang. Hanamichi stood up from his place between Hikaru and Rukawa on the couch and headed to the phone in the other corner of the room. “Hello! Sakuragi resident.” “Hello! Can I speak to Sakura…I mean Hanamichi, please?” the voice was so similar but he did not recognize whose it was. “He is speaking. Who is speaking?” “Ho Sakuragi! It’s Sendoh. How are you?” the voice suddenly brightened up. “SENDOH!!” he yelled causing the two on the couch turned. /What the hell does he want from my Hana-kun? And just how the hell did he get Hana’s number? / Rukawa mentally cursed the spike hair youth. "Who is this Sendoh guy, Kaede-‘niisan?” the boy asked not bothering to look his way. Rukawa smirked inwardly before he tore his eyes away from the certain redhead. “Just a freak.” “Wow!! Don’t yell at the receiver like that! I called you cuz I have to tell you about the up coming street bas match we’re gonna have this Saturday,” Sendoh replied on the otherline to Hana. “STREET BASKETBALL!!??” “Yep! It’ll be held at Kanagawa Central Park. We’ll meet at the South Gate at 9 o’clock. I have called Akagi and he said it’s ok then I called Rukawa, he is not home though, and then I called you. Oh hey!! Is he there?” “ Who??” asked a puzzled Hanamichi. “Well you know, Rukawa.” the tensai’s was taken aback though Sendoh did not notice. “He is there, isn’t he? Huh? Huh? Heheheheh!!” Sendoh laughed maniacally. “H…how did you know!? Hey answer my question, Sendoh!!” Hana yelled flushing furiously. “HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEH!!!!!!!!!!” Hanamichi then hung up the phone. “Damn him. How the hell did he know the fox was here?” Hanamichi muttered. When he turned around he found the fox standing right in front of him. “What is it, fox?” he asked. “Hi-Chan is asleep and I’m going home?” the fox said simply. “Alright, I walk you to the door.” Once Rukawa stepped out of the door he quietly asked not looking back. “What did Sendoh say on the phone?” “Nothing, he only told me about an unofficial match this Saturday. He said he called but you were here then he said it’ll be held at the Kanagawa Central Park at 9.00a.m and we meet at the South Gate.” “Is that it? Just a news?” his voice did show a hint of jealousy to Hanamichi’s surprise. “That’s it. Why?” asked Hana, curious. “No, nothing. Good night!”. With that he slowly vanished into the night cold air of mist summer. “Good night, kitsune,” Hanamichi month the word soundlessly before he was back into the house, to Hikaru. To be Continued... **Previous**Next**